P^c^■ 


GIFT   OF 

.?  5    IrcUX. 


all 

emorial 
Ibrarp 


DEDICATION 


OF  THE 


Hall  Memorial  Library, 


AT 


ELLINGTON,    CONN., 


NOW  11th,  1903. 


^1 


SCHOOL 


BOARD  OF  LIBRARY  DIRECTORS. 


Dr.  E.  T.  DAVIS,  Chairman. 

ALBERT  PINNEY. 

FRANCIS  M.  CHARTER,  Secretary. 


E.  H.  BANCROFT,  Librarian. 


2Ji5^20 


INTRODUCTORY. 

It  is  proper  that  this  Memorial  Souvenir  of  the  dedication 
exercises  of  the  "Hall  Memorial  Library"  in  Ellington  should 
be  preceded  by  a  short  introductory  account  of  the  purpose 
of  Mr.  Francis  Hall,  the  donor,  in  erecting  and  giving  the 
library  to  his  native  town. 

A  strong  filial  and  fraternal  feeling,  inspired  also  with  a  loyal 
remembrance  of  Ellington,  the  place  of  his  boyhood  and  edu- 
cation— from  which  he  began  the  establishment  of  his  chosen 
avocation  of  a  book-seller — led  him  to  devise  this  library  as 
the  most  fitting  tribute  to  them  all.  The  result  of  his  deter- 
mination and  generous  labors  is  the  beautiful  building  which 
stands  in  the  center  of  the  town,  facing  the  public  park.  It 
was  not  an  investment,  but  a  token  of  love — a  free  public 
library. 

Mr.  Francis  Hall  for  several  years  had  considered  the 
propriety  and  desirability  of  giving  to  his  native  town  of 
Ellington  a  free  public  library.  His  desire  was  to  erect  a 
library  building  in  honoring  memory  of  his  father  and  elder 
brother,  who  had  been  head-masters  of  the  famous  schools  of 
Ellington.  His  father,  John  Hall,  was  founder  and  the 
principal  of  the  "Ellington  School,"  organized  in  1832.  His 
brother,  Edward  Hall,  succeeded  him  as  principal  of  the 
"Hall  Family  School  for  Boys."  This  last  school  was  not 
closed  until  1875,  the  year  of  his  death.  Thus  for  nearly  half 
a  century  the  two  continued  the  Ellington  schools.  In  them 
there  have  been  educated  many  men,  well  known  and  cele- 
brated for  their  influence  and  worth  in  every  department  of 
public  and  private  life. 

The  names  of  some  of  these  were  recalled  in  the  ad- 
dresses made,  and  in  letters  of  regret  of  others,  pupils  and 
friends,  who  were  unable  to  be  present  at  the  dedication  exercises 
at  the  opening  of  the  library. 

As  the  realization  of  Mr.   Hall's    purpose  was  more  and 


more  considered,  he  devoted  much  time  and  attention  to  per- 
fecting proper  plans  for  the  construction  of  a  library  building. 
That  his  idea  was  a  broad  one,  is  evidenced  by  the  difficulty 
found  in  making  perfect  the  architectural  details.  He  was 
constantly  enlarging  the  plan,  as  he  visited  many  public 
libraries. 

In  the  spring  of  1902,  he  entered  into  contract  with  Messrs. 
Carpenter  &  Williams  to  build  the  library  in  accordance  with 
the  plans  of  Mr.  Wilson  Potter,  Architect,  of  New  York  City. 
Soon  after  commencing  to  build,  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish 
his  personal  supervision  of  the  construction.  In  July  he  was 
taken  seriously  ill;  his  death  occurred  in  August,  1902.  He 
had  provided,  however,  for  the  completion  of  his  plans,  by 
instructions  in  his  will  to  his  three  brothers,  Frederic  Hall, 
Charles  C.  Hall  and  Eobert  A.  Hall — his  executors — 
to  expend  the  sum  of  $30,000  upon  the  building 
and  equipment  of  the  library.  In  addition,  he  left  the  sum 
of  $10,000 — or  so  much  of  the  same  as  should  remain  of  a 
legacy  of  that  amount,  given  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza  Hall 
Baird,  for  her  life  use — in  trust  to  the  Town  of  Ellington 
as  a  fund  whose  annual  income  should  be  expended  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  library.  Mrs.  Baird  survived  him  only 
a  few  months,  and,  accordingly,  nearly  this  whole  amount  vras 
handed  over  to  the  town. 

Nearly  $10,000  has  been  added  to  those  bequests  by  his 
executors,  themselves,  in  order  to  make  more  complete  the 
purpose  of  their  brother  to  fully  equip  this  Memorial  Library 
and  its  surrounding  grounds. 

Thus  $50,000  has  been  devoted  to  make  the  Hall  Memorial 
Library  complete.  It  is  a  memorial  to  the  father  and  his 
two  sons,  marking  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  Ellington  to  be 
remembered  for  many  years  to  come.  Nothing  has  been 
slighted  or  omitted,  that  Ellington  may  have  a  library  that 
shall  give  the  citizens  of  the  town  the  fullest  enjoyment  of  a 
free  and  well  equipped  library. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


The  two  principal  streets  of  Ellington  cross  each  other 
obliquely  in  the  center  of  the  town,  and  form  the  boundaries 
of  two  large  triangular  plots  of  ground.  One  is  the  village 
park;  upon  the  other  the  library  building  has  been  erected. 
Its  location  is  ideal,  its  surroundings  beautiful.  The  design  of 
the  Hall  library  is  classical  and  the  building  well  proportioned, 
symmetrical  and  dignified.  The  materials  used  are  principally 
Milford  granite  and  white  limestone,  the  roof  being  of  red  clay 
tiles.  The  vestibule  opens  into  a  public  hall  or  foyer  twenty- 
three  feet  wide  and  thirty-two  feet  long,  from  which  access  is  ob- 
tained to  all  parts  of  the  building.  Upon  the  right  are  the 
main  reading-room,  reference-room  and  museum;  upon  the  left 
are  the  book-room,  librarian's  room  and  children's  room,  while 
in  front  and  directly  facing  the  main  entrance  is  the  staircase. 
The  main  stairway  extends  in  a  single,  broad  flight  to  a  wide 
landing  half-way  between  the  first  and  second  floors;  then 
divides  and  extends  upwards  in  two  flights.  Upon  the  landing 
is  a  large  triple  window  in  leaded  glass,  and  in  the  three 
transoms  above  are  portraits  of  John  Hall,  Edward  Hall  and 
Francis  Hall.  The  reading-room  and  reference-room,  twenty- 
three  by  twenty-six  feet,  are  really  one,  the  separation  being 
only  by  marble  columns,  similar  to  those  in  the  foyer.  These 
are  handsome  and  attractive  rooms,  with  oak  wainscots,  deeply 
paneled  ceilings,  and  a  large  fireplace.  In  a  panel  of  the 
chimney  breast  is  the  bronze  memorial  tablet  containing  the 
following  inscription : 

"This  tablet  is  placed  by  Eliza  Hall  Baird  in  memory 
of  her  brother,  Francis  Hall,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  who 
erected  this  building,  A.  D.  1903,  in  honoring  memory  of 
his  father,  John  Hall,  and  of  his  brother,  Edward  Hall, 
whose  lives  for  more  than  half  a  century  were  devoted  to 
educational  work  in  the  town  of  Ellington." 

The  book-room  provides  stackage  in  one  tier  for  8,000 
volumes,  and  when  desired  the  capacity    may    be    doubled  by 


8 

adding  a  second  tier,  the  room  being  designed  with  this  in 
view.  The  librarian's  room,  adjoining  the  book-room,  opens 
also  into  the  children's  room  and  the  foyer.  Connected  with  it 
is  a  large  storeroom,  and  also  the  side  or  private  entrance  to 
the  building.  A  book-lift,  located  so  as  to  open  into  the 
librarian's  and  the  book-room,  runs  to  the  unpacking-room  in 
the  basement.  The  children's  room,  sixteen  by  eighteen  feet 
in  size,  opens  into  the  librarian's  room  and  the  foyer.  The 
museum  opens  into  the  reading-room  and  the  foyer.  This  room 
is  sixteen  by  twenty-four  feet.  Two  coat-rooms  are  provided 
adjoining  the  main  entrance  to  the  building,  and  a  women's 
retiring  and  toilet-room  is  located  under  the  main  stair  landing. 
The  second  story  covers  only  the  central  portion  of  the  building, 
the  principal  space  being  devoted  to  the  picture  gallery.  This 
is  a  handsome  room,  thirty-four  by  thirty-eight  feet  in  size, 
lighted  from  above.  In  the  basement  are  provided  rooms  for 
heating  apparatus,  fuel,  men's  toilet,  unpacking-room,  etc.  The 
outside  of  the  walls  are  built  hollow,  the  inside  partitions  are 
solid  brick  walls,  and  the  plastering  is  directly  upon  the  brick- 
work, or  upon  expanded  metal.  This  form  of  construction 
has  produced  a  building  which  is  practically  fire-proof,  as 
the  only  combustible  parts  of  the  structure  are  the  floor  joists, 
and  these  are  protected  by  the  floor-deafening.  The  architect 
of  the  building  was  Wilson  Potter  of  New  York  City,  and 
the  general  contractors  were  Carpenter  &  Williams  of  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  LIBRARY  GROUNDS. 


The  grounds  about  the  library  building  and  the  walks 
leading  up  to  the  same  are  artistically  laid  out  and  graded. 
The  building  is  well  placed,  having  ample  room  on  all  sides, 
and  the  elevation  above  the  ground  line  is  sufficient  to  give 
the  building  a  fine,  lofty  setting,  with  front  lawn  of  about 
seventy  feet. 

The  main  steps  in  front  of  the  building  are  of  granite, 
eight  in  number,  to  the  portico,  and  about  thirty-two  feet  in 
length.  The  front  walk  leading  down  to  the  drive-way  at 
the  front  curb  is  sixteen  feet  in  width,  bordered  by  a  five- 
inch  granite  curb.  Along  the  full  three  sides  of  the  library 
grounds  extends  a  fine  line  of  six-inch,  top-faced,  pointed-front, 
granite  coping,  showing  six-inch  front  face,  thus  setting  up 
the  lawn  six  inches  above  the  gravel  walk,  six  feet  in  width, 
which  extends  all  about  the  grounds.  A  granite  carriage  block 
and  granite  hitching  posts  on  either  side  accommodate  visitors 
who  may  come  by  carriage. 

The  generosity  of  Mr.  Francis  Hall  was  farther  added  to 
by  his  brothers.  They  have  also  put  in  place  a  fine  line  of 
cut-face  Monson  granite  curbing  entirely  around  the  public 
park  which  lies  immediately  in  front  of  the  library  grounds, 
between  them  and  the  Ecclesiastical  Society's  park.  Thus  the 
whole  setting  of  the  library  building  is  an  ideal  one.  Plans 
for  these  parks  and  direction  of  the  work  wore  placed  in  the 
charge  of  Mr.  John  T.  McKnight  of  Ellington. 


10 

DEDICATION    EXERCISES 

HALL  MEMORIAL  LIBRARY, 

ELLINGTON,   CONN. 


Wednesday,  November  iith,  1903. 


Chairman — John  T.  McKnight,  Esq. 
Invocation  _  _  .  Rev.  David  E.  Jones 

Music. 
Address  of  Welcome  -  -  Eev.  David  E.  Jones 

Reading  of  Minutes  of  Town  Meeting        -        Miles  Aborn 

Toion  Clerk 

Presentation  of  Library  and  Trust      )      pP^^f*  ");  T^\ 

Funds  to  the  Town  of  Ellington      i      V.    i        Vt  n 

3       Frederic  Hall 

Executors  Estate  of  Francis  Hall, 

Represented  by 

Charles  C.  Farnham,  Esq. 

Eeading  Vote  of  Thanks 

and  Eemarks  -  -  Francis  M.  Charter,  Esq. 

Transfer  of  Library  by  the  Town 
TO  the  Care  of  Library  Directors     -    William  IST.  Pinney, 

First  Selectman. 
Acceptance  of  Transfer  by  Directors     -     Dr.  E.  T.  Davis, 

Chairman  Board  of 
Library  Directors. 
Music. 
Address,  "The  Relation  of  a  Town 
to  a  Public  Library"        -        -        Hon.  Charles  D.  Hine, 

Secy  State  Board  of 
Education. 
Address,  "Reminiscences  of 

Ellington"  -  -  Rev.  Nathaniel  H.  Egleston, 

Boston,  Mass. 
Letters  from  Absent  Invited 

Guests  .  .  .  Burton  C.  Charaberlin,  Esq. 

Music,  "America" 
Benediction  .  -  -  Rev.  Luther  H.  Barber 


11 


RECEPTION. 


Wednesday,  the  eleventh  day  of  November,  was  set  aside 
by  the  people  of  Ellington  as  a  holiday.  All  exerted  them- 
selves to  have  a  part  in  the  dedication  services.  It  was  an 
exhibition  of  enthusiasm  which  has  never  been  equalled  by  them 
in  the  past,  and  will  be  remembered  for  many  years  to  come. 

An  informal  reception  was  held  at  the  library  building 
from  10  o'clock  A.  M.  to  12  o'clock  M.  A  committee  of  rep- 
resentative gentlemen  and  ladies  received  the  out  of  town 
guests  and  visitors  in  the  reading-room.  Tea  or  coffee  and 
cakes  were  served  as  a  light  refreshment,  and  the  building  in- 
spected at  the  convenience  of  the  visitors. 

Dinner  was  served  by  the  Ellington  ladies,  in  the  church 
parlors,  at  13  o'clock — everj^body  being  invited  and  made  wel- 
come. 

Promptly  at  half-past  1  o'clock  the  church  auditorium 
was  opened  for  the  dedication  exercises,  as  arranged  upon  the 
program  given  on  the  previous  page.  Mr.  John  T.  McKnight 
was  chairman.  A  noticeable  feature  of  the  assembled  audience 
was  the  large  gathering  of  those  who  held  in  life-long  re- 
membrance the  faces  and  memory  of  those  for  whom  the 
building  was  designed  as  a  memorial.  Many  came  from  out 
of  town,  some  of  them  quite  a  distance,  to  be  present  at  the 
exercises. 

Mr.  McKnight  called  the  assembly  to  order  and  announced 
that  the  exercises  would  be  opened  with  a  benediction  by  Rev. 
David  E.  Jones. 


12 


INVOCATION  BY  REV,  DAVID  E.  JONES. 


0  Tliou  that  inhabitest  eternity,  whose  name  is  holy,  whose 
are  the  silver  and  the  gold,  and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills, 
we  pray  Thee  that  Thou  wilt  grant  Thy  benediction  to  rest 
upon   us   now. ' 

We  thank  Thee  that  Thou  didst  give  the  means  to  Thy 
servant  with  which  to  erect  this  structure  that  we  are  about 
to  dedicate  for  the  intellectual  and  moral  benefit  of  his  friends 
in  this  place,  and  we  commend  them  unto  Thy  care  and 
keeping  at  this  time  and  during  all  time  to  come.  Bless,  we 
pray  Thee,  his  kindred — these  present  with  us  and  those  absent 
from  us  at  this  time.  And  we  pray  Thee,  0  God,  that  Thou 
wilt  bless  the  friends  who  are  to  take  part  in  these  exercises, 
and  all  who  are  here  present  assisting  us  at  this  time. 

We  ask  all  these  favors  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  and 
Savior,  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 


MEMORIAL   TABLET. 


13 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME  BY  REV.  DAVID  E.  JONES. 


Mr.  Chairman: — 

On  this  very  interesting  occasion  we  very  naturally  follow 
the  example  of  the  ancient  Jews  as  they  dedicated  the  restored 
walls  of  Jerusalem,  when  they  sought  the  Levites  out  of  all 
their  places,  to  bring  them  to  Jerusalem  to  keep  the  dedication 
with  gladness,  both  with  thanksgiving  and  with  singing.  After 
the  same  fashion  we  have  sought,  as  far  as  we  could,  all  the 
former  residents  of  this  town  and  their  descendants,  all  the 
teachers  and  former  pupils  of  the  Hall  school,  whose  addresses 
could  be  found,  to  bring  to  our  Jerusalem,  that  they  might 
here  to-day  share  our  joy  and  gladness,  and  assist  in  the 
dedicatory  exercises  of  this  new  library. 

We  look  upon  this  day  as  one  of  the  most  important 
days  in  the  history  of  Ellington.  Our  people  in  the  past 
have  had  important  days;  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  later 
during  the  Civil  war,  when  they  had  their  days  of  deep 
anxiety  and  sadness.  Again,  when  the  news  of  peace  with 
the  Mother  Country  reached  this  quiet  town,  and  when  the 
assurance  came  here  of  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox, 
Ellington,  as  well  as  other  towns  of  the  State  and  Union,  re- 
joiced according  to  the  joy  of  harvest,  and  as  men  rejoice 
when  they  "divide  the  spoil";  when  self-denying  and  far- 
sighted  men  here,  followed  their  young  and  enthusiastic  pastor 
into  the  woods  and  secured  varied  and  choice  trees,  and  planted 
them  in  yonder  park;  when  this  church  edifice  was  completed 
and  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Lord  of  hosts — these  also 
were  days  of  rejoicing  and  of  thanksgiving  to  the  Christian 
people  connected  with  this  church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

And  to-day  the  people  of  the  whole  town,  young  and  old, 
native  born  and  the  adopted  citizen  ("the  stranger  within 
the  gate"),  Protestants  and  Catholics  alike,  unite  as  one  man 


14 

in  making  this  a  most  memorable  day  in  the  history  of 
Ellington. 

I  am  sure  that  I  voice  the  most  cordial  wishes  of  the  heirs 
of  the  Francis  Hall  estate,  the  trustees  of  the  library,  and  of  all 
the  inhabitants  of  Ellington,  when  I,  in  their  name,  extend 
to  you,  whose  ancestors  lived  here  and  made  their  influence 
felt  for  good  in  the  place,  others  of  you  who  were  fortunate 
enough  to  be  born  here,  but  have  since  gone  elsewhere  to  carve 
out  your  fortunes,  still  others,  those  who,  though  not  related 
to  Ellington  by  birth,  nor  by  residence,  nor  by  blood,  but  who 
have  kindly  come  here  to  assist  by  your  presence  and  good 
wishes,  to  make  this  a  noted  day  for  us  living  in  the  place; 
and,  again,  to  those  present  who  of  yore  taught  in  the  Hall 
schools,  or  were  favored  in  receiving  instructions  within  their 
classic  precincts,  one  and  all,  we  extend  the  most  cordial  and 
sincere  welcome  and  invite  you  to  participate  with  us  in  the 
joyous  and  grateful  ceremonies  connected  with  the  dedication 
of  this  beautiful  library. 

In  addition  to  these  words  of  welcome,  I  have  been  asked 
to  speak  a  few  words  of  tribute  to  the  man  who  by  his  munificent 
gift  has  made  this  day's  rejoicing  possible — the  late  Francis 
Hall  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.  A  man  of  choice  intellectual  attain- 
ments, beautiful  character,  and  a  deep  spiritual  life.  To  you 
who  knew  him  so  well,  I  need  not  speak  of  his  charming 
personality,  of  his  utter  unselfishness,  and  of  the  enthusiasm 
with  which  he  engaged  in  every  good  work  for  the  physical, 
intellectual  and  moral  welfare  of  his  fellows. 

I  wish  to  call  you  attention,  in  the  briefest  manner,  to 
his  rich  inheritance.  From  his  grandfather,  John  Hall, 
Esq.,  who  carried  on  successfvdly  an  extensive  business  in  the 
southeast  part  of  this  town,  he  doubtless  inherited  business 
sagacity  of  the  best  and  most  honorable  type,  a  genius  which 
enabled  him  to  "take  the  tide  at  its  flood,"  both  at  home 
and  in  foreign  lands.  From  his  father,  the  Hon.  John  Hall — 
who  planted,  and  induced    others    to    plant,  the  double  rows 


15 

of  elms  west  of  the  library,  which  have  ever  since  adorned 
our  village — he  secured  a  taste  for  the  beautiful,  a  taste  which 
he  further  developed  by  penetrating  observation,  diligent 
study  and  extensive  travel.  He  also  doubtless  received  from 
his  father,  who  stood  high  as  a  scholar  in  his  class  at  Yale, 
and  later  taught  there,  an  intellectual  taste  which  led  him 
to  become  early  in  life  a  teacher,  and  afterward  to  engage 
extensively  in  the  book  trade.  This  again  kept  him  in  touch 
with  leaders  of  thought,  for  before  and  after  the  Civil  war,  the 
Bev.  Thomas  K.  Beecher  and  men  of  his  type  met  frequently 
at  the  Hall  book  store  in  Elmira  to  discuss  the  vexed  and 
intricate  questions  of  the  day.  And  Mr.  Hall's  opinions 
were  always  listened  to  with  profound  respect,  because  of  his 
candor  and  keen  insight. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  meet  him  several  times  during  the 
last  few  years  of  his  life.  And  I  at  once  learned  that  as 
soon  as  he  decided  to  build  a  library  in  his  native  town  in 
memory  of  his  father  and  brother,  who  had  devoted  the  best 
years  of  their  lives  to  the  cause  of  education,  he  expended  a 
great  deal  of  time  and  energy  in  devising  the  best  way  of 
carrying  out  his  plans,  visiting  the  libraries  of  the  leading 
cities  and  towns  of  the  country,  conversing  with  expert 
librarians  and  educators,  and  consulting  with  the  leading 
architects. 

It  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret  to  all  his  friends  that  he 
could  not  have  lived  to  see  his  plans  executed,  though  they 
have  been  taken  up  and  carried  on  so  well  by  other  hands. 
We  wish  we  might  have  been  permitted  to  express  to  him 
personally  our  warm  affection  for  his  loving  thouglit  and 
generous  gift  for  our  benefit,  and  that  of  many  persons  yet 
unborn. 

We  fully  realize  that  this  munificent  gift  cannot  be 
adequately  appreciated  by  us  at  present,  but  we  are  sure  that 
as  the  years  roll  on,  we  and  those  who  follow  us,  will  value  it 
niore  and  more,  as  its  real  worth  will  dawn  upon  us  and  them. 

And  now,  as  we  think  of  the  thoughtful,  cultured.  Christian 


16 

donor,  who  has  left  us  for  his  spiritual  home,  we  all  unite  in  say- 
ing. Blessed  is  the  dead,  who  has  died  in  the  Lord  .  .  .  that  he 
may  rest  from  his  labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him! 

May  his  mantle  fall  on  other  thoughtful  and  liberal  people, 
who  are  interested  in  the  highest  welfare  of  our  village !  In- 
deed, we  venture  to  predict  that  the  various  gifts  already 
donated  to  our  town  library  are  but  the  "first  fruits"  of  a  rich 
and  abundant  "harvest"  that  will  yet  follow. 

Mr.  J.  T.  McKnight,  after  the  address  of  welcome  and 
previous  to  announcing  the  other  speakers,  spoke  as  follows : 

Allow  me,  friends,  to  add  one  word  of  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  the  late  Mr.  Francis  Hall :  and  that  is  to  assure 
you  of  the  deep  interest  Mr.  Hall  manifested  in  this  enterprise 
from  the  very  beginning. 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  pleasant  recollections  and  asso- 
ciations on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1902,  when  the  building 
was  finally  located  and  the  ground  first  broken;  and  I  assure 
you  his  interest  never  lacked  even  to  the  finish. 

We  will  now  listen  to  the  first  "formal  part"  of  the 
exercises :  the  reading  of  the  minutes  of  the  town  meeting, 
by  the  town  clerk,  Miles  H.  Aborn,  and  after  that  the  pre- 
sentation and  acceptance  of  the  library  will  follow. 

OFFICIAL  ACTION 

Of    the    Town    of    Ellington    With    Reference    to    the 
Library  and  Trust  Funds. 

NOTICE. 

The  legal  voters  of  the  Town  of  Ellington  are  hereby 
warned  that  a  special  town  meeting  will  be  held  at  the  Town 
Hall,  Wednesday,  October  31st,  at  7  :30  o'clock  P.  M.,  for  the 
following  purpose : 

1.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  accept  the  library,  from 
the  executors  of  the  Francis  Hall  estate. 


17 

2.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  accept  the  fund  to 
maintain  said  library,  from  the  executors  of  the  Francis  Hall 
estate. 

3.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  appropriate  money  to 
maintain  said  library. 

4.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  increase  the  number  of 
library  directors. 

W.  H.  PINNEY,  ) 

0.  C.  EATON,        [     Selectmen. 

J.  H.  LYNCH,       3 

MILES  H.  ABORN,  Town  Clerk. 
Dated  at  Ellington,  Connecticut,  October  16th,  1903. 

VOTE  AT  THE  TOWN  MEETING  OCTOBER  31,  1903. 

The  town  voted  unanimously  to  accept  the  library  and  fund 
from  the  executors  of  the  Francis  Hall  estate,  in  accordance 
with  Sections  I  and  II.  It  also  voted  unanimously  that  in  ad- 
dition to  the  annual  appropriation  of  one  hundred  dollars  for 
library  purposes,  the  further  sum  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  voted  as  an  additional  annual 
appropriation  for  the  running  expenses  of  the  Hall  Memorial 
Library.  It  also  voted  to  increase  the  number  of  directors  of 
the  Ellington  Public  Library  from  three  to  six  in  number. 


18 


ADDRESS  OF  CHARLES  C,  FARNHAM,  ESQ.,  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


Mr.  Chairman,  and  You,  the  Citizens  of  this  Charming 
Town,  and  You,  Its  Guests: — This  is  a  day  of  which  we  may 
all  be  proud.  It  is  no  ordinary  occasion.  I  esteem  it  a  great 
honor  to  stand  here  in  the  presence  of  such  an  assemblage 
and  to  take  part  in  the  exercises  of  this  afternoon.  What 
an  audience !  What  an  inspiration !  But  it  lacks  one  element 
for  me,  and,  I  assume,  for  you.  The  one  in  whose  memory  we 
gather  here  to-day  is  numbered  among  the  departed.  I  cannot 
believe,  however,  but  that  his  noble,  genial  and  generous  spirit 
pervades  us  all  at  this  time. 

In  behalf  of  Frederic  Hall,  Charles  C.  Hall  and  Robert 
A.  Hall,  the  executors  and  trustees  under  the  last  will  and 
testament  of  Francis  Hall,  deceased,  I  have  been  requested  to 
address  you.  These  gentlemen  wish  you  to  understand  that 
they  do  not  take  any  of  the  glory  of  this  day  to  themselves. 
They  are  simply  stewards  into  whose  hands  has  been  placed 
a  sacred  trust  which  they  are  now  ready  as  the  representatives 
of  their  beloved  brother  to  deliver  into  your  charge  and  keeping 
forever.  And  if  they  have  exceeded  the  bequest  to  you,  con- 
tained in  the  last  will  and  testament  of  Mr.  Francis  Hall,  it 
has  been  done  willingly  and  thoughtfulh^,  to  the  end  that  you 
might  feel  and  know  the  deep  love  and  gratitude  that  each 
one  of  these  gentlemen  bears  to  you  and  to  the  town  that 
reared  them  to  the  world. 

By  the  twenty-first  article  of  Francis  HalFs  will  ho  be- 
queathed to  his  three  brothers  the  sum  of  $30,000  in  trust, 
"that  they  employ  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  thereof  in  such 
manner  as  they  may  deem  best,  to  the  purchase  of  a  suitable 
site  in  the  town  of  Ellington,  Connecticut,  and  the  erection 
thereon  of  a  town  library  building  in  honoring  memory  of 
the  educational  work  of  their  father,  John  Hall,  and  their 
eldest  brother,  Edward  Hall."  The  remainder  of  the  fund, 
five  thousand  dollars,  was    to    be    employed  by  them    in    the 


19 

purchase  of  books,  works  of  art,  and  other  library  material, 
and  in  furnishing  and  preparing  the  rooms  in  the  building 
for  use.  And  as  soon  as  the  work  is  accomplished  the  trustees 
are  to  convey  and  transfer  the  site,  the  library,  furniture  and 
other  things  so  provided  to  the  town  absolutely." 

Mr.  Hall  further  bequeathed  to  the  town  of  Ellington 
the  remainder,  after  the  decease  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza  Hall 
Baird,  of  the  fund  of  ten  thousand  dollars  by  another  article 
of  his  will  bequeathed  to  her  use  during  her  life — "Such  re- 
mainder to  be  held  by  the  to^vn  perpetually  and  the  interest 
and  income  thereof  applied  to  the  maintenance  and  extension 
of  the  library  to  be  established  as  above  provided,  to  buildings 
and  appurtenances  as  shall  be  deemed  best." 

"Provided,  that  if  the  said  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  shall  prove  insufficient  for  the  entire  completion  of  the 
library  building  as  above  appointed,  the  trustees  may  appro- 
priate for  that  purpose  a  part,  not  exceeding  a  moiety,  of  the 
sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  allotted  to  the  purchase  of  books 
and  other  things  aforesaid." 

For  at  least  a  dozen  years  before  his  death  he  had  made 
similar  provision  in  his  former  wills  for  this  object.  He  fore- 
saw the  needs  and  requirements  of  his  native  town  long  ago. 
He  had  conversed  freely  with  his  brothers  concerning  it, 
especially  during  the  last  five  years  of  his  life;  but  never  felt 
that  he  cared  to  execute  his  plans  while  living.  He  shrank 
from  any  move  that  might  create  public  demonstration  in 
which  he  would  be  the  chief  actor.  And  it  was  not  until  Mrs. 
Graham  made  known  her  intention  to  provide  a  library 
building  for  this  town  that  he  realized  that  if  ever  his  dream 
of  giving  a  library  to  Ellington  should  become  a  reality,  he 
must  undertake  it  then  in  his  lifetime.  It  is  not  often  that 
a  community  is  so  blessed  as  to  have  two  of  its  former  citizens 
offer  to  make  a  gift  to  such  a  noble  cause.  He  may  be,  there- 
fore, considered  a  privileged  giver  who  caused  to  be  erected 
such  a  memorial  as  you  now  possess. 

Accordingly,    in    the    early    summer    of    1900,    JMr.    Hall 


20 

himself  purchased  the  site  for  this  building,  and  after  visiting 
many  libraries  in  this  State  and  others,  and  having  selected 
Mr.  Potter  of  Xew  York  as  architect,  he  decided  upon  the 
plans;  and  in  March,  1902,  signed  the  general  building  con- 
tract. He  came  here  several  times  after  this,  when  it  did 
not  seem  wise  or  prudent  to  his  brothers,  that  he  himself  might 
witness  the  actual  laying  of  the  foundation  walls.  It  was 
late  in  the  month  of  June,  a  year  ago,  that  he  made  his  last 
visit.  Eeturning  to  Elmira,  he  was,  on  the  twenty-second  day 
of  the  same  month,  stricken  down,  and  after  a  lingering  illness 
died  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  August,  1903,  in  the  eightieth 
year  of  his  age. 

As  soon  after  his  death  as  it  was  prudent,  his  three  brothers, 
whom  he  had  made  his  executors  and  trustees,  at  once  took 
up  the  work  of  carrying  out  the  plans  and  specifications  as 
adopted  by  him  in  his  lifetime  and  set  out  in  his  will.  They 
have  labored  earnestly  and  faithfully  along  these  lines,  and 
have  not  hesitated  to  draw  upon  their  individual  resources, 
when  it  was  plain  to  them  that  the  plans  would  be  improved 
and  the  interests  of  the  library  could  be  furthered. 

The  trustees  have  now  completed  the  erection  of  the 
building  and  furnished  and  prepared  the  rooms  for  use,  and 
they  have  in  other  ways  so  executed  their  trust  in  accordance 
with  the  above  articles  of  the  will  that  they  are  this  day  ready 
to  deliver  to  your  officials  a  deed  of  the  site,  the  library  furni- 
ture and  contents,  to  be  held  and  used  as  a  tov/n  library,  all  of 
which  represents  an  investment  of  $40,000.  They  have  also 
the  securities  amounting  to  $10,000  from  the  Eliza  Hall  Baird 
trust  fund,  which  they  are  also  ready  to  transfer  to  you.  The 
interest  and  income  from  this  fund  amounts  to  $485  a  year 
and  can  be  used  only,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  will,  "to 
the  maintenance  and  extension  of  the  library,  to  buildings  and 
appurtenances,"  as  shall  be  deemed  best  by  your  board  of 
library  directors,  and  does  not  have  reference  to  the  general 
running  expenses.  This  fund  is  a  further  insurance  for  the 
care  and  protection  of  the  library  building.     The  purcliaso  of 


21 

additional  books,  furniture  and  the  equipment  of  the  picture 
gallery  would  be  permissible,  however,  from  this  income,  when- 
ever there  was  a  portion  left  over  any  year,  after  making 
necessary  repairs  to  the  building.  The  obligations  that  you 
assume  in  accepting  this  gift  are  not  burdensome,  in  com- 
parison with  those  that  are  exacted  from  other  towns  and 
cities  throughout  the  country,  that  have  lately  been  the  re- 
cipients of  library  enterprises  at  the  hands  of  a  noted  man. 

The  hearty  endorsement  and  the  unanimous  acceptance 
by  you,  of  the  provisions  of  the  will  concerning  the  library 
and  trust  fund,  in  the  special  town  meeting  warned  for  that 
purpose  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  last  month,  together  with 
the  liberal  appropriation  of  $450  and  the  resolution  of  thanks, 
assure  the  trustees  of  the  estate  of  your  liberal  support;  and 
that  you  indeed  "appreciate  the  gift  and  good  will  of  the 
late  Francis  Hall,''  and  are  bound  to  amply  provide  for  the 
running  expenses  of  the  library. 

It  is  therefore  with  the  greatest  pleasure  and  gratification 
that  they  greet  you  all :  however,  their  feelings  of  joy  are 
mingled  with  those  of  sorrow  over  the  irrevocable  loss  that 
they  have  sustained  in  the  death  of  their  brother  and  over 
the  fact  that  he  was  not  spared  to  consummate  the  business 
of  the  day. 

Francis  Hall  made  several  other  bequests  to  various 
charitable  and  educational  institutions  in  the  city  of  Elmira, 
his  adopted  home;  but  the  sum  total  of  them  all  does  not 
exceed,  by  many  thousand  dollars,  the  beautiful  building  and 
its  equipment  now  standing  on  yonder  green. 

In  all  his  financial  transactions  Mr.  Hall  never  made  better 
investments  than  in  this  town.  The  first  in  point  of  time 
was  the  gift  of  the  site  on  which  this  church  stands.  Many 
of  you  present  are  familiar  with  its  liistory  and  remember 
also  the  part  taken  in  this  by  his  eldest  brother,  whose  memory 
he  so  beautifully  honors  besides  that  of  his  father. 

The  uses  to  which  this  library  building  may  be  put  are 
many.     Here  the  literary  clubs  of  the  town   may  have  tlieir 


22 

meetings  on  the  second  floor  in  the  picture  gallery,  or  as- 
sembly room,  as  it  might  be  termed;  while  the  children  and 
young  people  can  gather  in  their  department  and  read  or 
listen  to  talks,  one  or  two  hours  a  week,  on  leading  topics  of 
the  day  from  the  librarian,  the  teacher  or  your  pastor,  Mr, 
Jones. 

Both  the  museum  and  picture  gallery  aiford  ample  accom- 
modations for  a  loan  exhibition  of  a  few  rare  collections  and 
paintings  from  your  homes,  until  some  one  feels  moved  to 
make  them,  or  others,  more  permanent.  Says  Mr.  Emerson, 
"I  wish  to  find  in  my  town  a  library  and  a  museum  which 
is  the  property  of  the  town,  where  I  can  deposit  this  precious 
treasure,  where  I  and  my  children  can  see  it  from  time  to 
time,  and  where  it  has  its  proper  place  among  hundreds  of 
such  donations  from  other  citizens." 

The  younger  generation  will  thus  be  stimulated  to  a  higher 
and  more  intellectual  life,  and  will  be  trained  on  educational 
lines  to  meet  the  wonderful  changes  of  the  twentieth  century. 

^['he  older  inhabitants  within  the  hearing  of  my  voice  can 
recall  the  long  list  of  public  spirited  men  that  either  spent 
their  boyhood-days  at  the  Hall  school  or  have  been  in  one 
way  or  another  connected  with,  and  interwoven  into,  the  history 
of  this  place. 

These  youths,  who  received  their  early  training  here  or 
were  born  and  bred  within  the  border  of  this  town,  and  are 
now  scattered  into  dilferent  parts  of  the  world,  until  those 
abroad  outnumber  those  at  home,  owe  their  success  to  the 
sterling  character  of  their  teachers  and  parents  and  their  puritan 
ancestors. 

That  eminent  jurist,  Hon.  Henry  B.  Brown,  a  Justice 
of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  since  1890,  at  Washington, 
J).  C,  was  a  fellow  citizen  of  this  town.  This  gentleman,  ap- 
preciating the  value  of  this  gift  to  you.  has  already  signified 
his  intention  to  leave  his  choice  collection  of  books  to  the 
library  here.  May  his  example  be  imitated  by  many  another 
along  the  same  or  different  lines. 


23 

A  single  instance  of  how  broad  and  far-reaching  and  lasting 
the  influence  that  this  boys'  school  of  the  past  is  to-day  exerting 
upon  the  minds  of  men  is  illustrated  in  that  statesman,  Baron 
Yanoski  Iwasaki,  of  Japan,  an  account  of  whose  life  was 
given  in  the  October  Century,  1901,  who  while  on  a  visit  to 
this  country  last  year  acknowledged  that  his  success  was  due 
largely  to  the  early  training  received  under  the  instruction 
of  his  teacher,  Edward  Hall.  And  upon  being  informed  of 
the  history  of  this  memorial,  he  without  hesitation  drew  from 
his  purse  $8,000  in  gold  certificates  and  placed  the  same  into 
the  hands  of  Charles  C.  Hall  and  Mrs.  Farnham,  saying,  "This 
I  wish  to  be  used  by  you  in  and  about  the  building,  in  ap- 
preciation of  my  love  and  admiration  for  my  friend  and 
former  teacher,  Edward  Hall." 

The  building  constructed  of  granite  and  stone,  so  beauti- 
fully wrought  and  shaped  according  to  the  laws  of  classic 
architecture,  will  stand,  not  alone  as  a  token  of  brotherly  and 
parental  affection  for  those  in  whose  honor  it  was  built,  but  as 
a  lasting  monument  to  the  giver,  a  single  stone  of  whose 
walls  contains  a  depth  of  meaning  greater  and  more  enduring 
that  the  famous  pyramids  of  Egypt. 

And  now,  sir,  to  you,  Mr.  William  N.  Pinney,  the  First 
Selectman  of  the  Town  of  Ellington,  and  its  legal  representative, 
I  transfer  and  hand  over,  in  behalf  of  the  executors  of  the 
estate  of  Francis  Hall,  and  through  you  to  the  Town  of 
Ellington,  the  library  building  and  its  appurtenances,  together 
with  the  trust  funds,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  vrill  of 
Francis  Hall. 

EESPOXSE  OF  ACCEPTANCE 

by 

William  N.  Pinney,  First  Selectman. 

Gentlemen : — 

In  accepting  the  magnificent  donation  of  the  late  Francis 
Hall,  I,  as  representing  the  Town  of  Ellington,  extend  to 
you,  in  your    representative    capacity,    and    individually,  the 


24 

heartfelt  thanks  of  the  people  of  our  town.  \\'c  are  amply 
appeciative  of  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Hall,  who  so  wisely  re- 
membered his  native  town.  Nothing  that  he  could  have  done 
would  have  benefited  our  people  so  much.  And  it  is  with  the 
deepest  sense  of  our  obligation  to  Mr.  Hall  that  I,  in  behalf 
of  our  people,  accept  this  magnificent  gift. 

THE  VOTE  OF  THANKS  OF  THE  TOWN. 

Address  of  Francis  M.  Charter,  Esq. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Benefactors  and  Friends: — 

On  the  evening  of  October  21st,  1903,  there  assembled  in 
the  Town  Hall  at  Ellington,  a  company  of  our  townsmen, 
smaller  in  number,  but  not  excelled  in  enthusiasm,  by  the 
friends  gathered  here  to-day. 

At  this  meeting,  large  in  numbers,  earnest  in  feeling,  and 
united  in  purpose,  our  people  took  the  necessary  final  prepara- 
tory steps  to  the  grand  consummating  acts  of  to-day,  which 
have  placed  in  the  heart  of  our  town  and  in  the  hands  of  our 
people  a  beautiful  building  and  library. 

Among  the  resolutions  passed  at  this  meeting  was  the 
following : 

"Resolved,  That  the  citizens  and  taxpayers  of  the  town 
of  Ellington  hereby  unanimously  express  and  extend  to  the 
executors  of  the  estate  of  Francis  Hall  their  most  hearty  thanks 
for  the  most  generous  gift  of  the  beautiful  library  building 
and  the  trust  fund  for  the  maintenance  of  the  same,  and  that 
a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  sent  to  the  Messrs.  Hall,  executors 
of  the  Francis  Hall  estate,  in  appreciation  of  the  gift  and 
good-will  of  Francis  Hall." 

The  same  harmony,  sincerity  and  unanimity  of  feeling 
with  whicli  tliis  resolution  was  passed  have  characterized  every 
act  of  our  people  in  regard  to  this  library  and  its  adjoining 
park. 

We  are  proud  of  this  building,  and  of  the  generous  and 


35 

noble  stand  our  people  liave  taken  in  regard  to  it.  We  feel 
that  we  have  no  words  adequate  to  express  our  appreciation 
of  this  gift. 

As  I  attempt  to  express  our  gratitude,  m}-  thouglits 
wander  back  to  the  old  high  school  building  and  to  the  old 
school  days,  and  again  to  the  pleasant  years  others  of  us  spent 
in  the  school  of  Edward  Hall,  and  we  are  glad  to  aid  in  per- 
petuating the  memories  of  both  father  and  son,  and  to  join 
with  the  late  Mr.  Francis  Hall  in  honoring  their  names. 

We  are  thankful  for  this  gift,  because  we  feel  that  no  town 
is,  in  these  days,  complete  without  its  library — that  it  is  as 
necessary  to  the  promotion  of  the  welfare  of  the  people  as  the 
school,  the  newspaper  and  the  church. 

Our  full  and  complete  appreciation  of  the  munificent  gift 
will  be  expressed  in  acts,  rather  than  in  words.  While  it 
stands  as  a  memorial  to  the  honored  dead,  we  shall  endeavor 
to  make  it  a  blessing  to  the  living. 

Transfer  of  the  Library  into  the  care  of  the  Library 
Directors  by  the  Town,  through  its  First  Selectman,  William 
iST.  Pinney,  Esq. : 

THE  TEAXSFEE. 
To  the  Library  Directors: — 

Xow,  Sirs,  I  commit  to  your  keeping  this  noble  building 
and  the  use  of  the  fund  for  its  maintenance;  fully  confident 
that  you  will  carry  out  the  wishes  of  Mr.  Hall,  and  that 
under  your  administration,  and  that  of  your  successors,  our 
people  may  use  and  enjoy  this  great  benefaction  forever. 

OFFICIAL  ACCEPTANCE 

Of  the  Case  of  the  Library  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Dr.  E.  T.  Davis^  Chairman. 
Sir:— 

■     I  think,  possibly,  that  the  sons  and  daughters  of  old  Xew 
England  who  have  cast  their  lots  in  other  States  mav  cherish 


26 

more  dearly  the  recollection  of  their  earl}-  homes  than  do  we 
who  have  staid  near  the  scenes  of  our  youth.  They  are  not 
mindful  so  much  of  the  present  as  of  the  glorious  past,  and 
the  great  part  which  New  England  has  had  in  shaping  the 
destinies  of  the  nation.  If  that  influence  for  good  is  to  con- 
tinue, it  can  only  be,  as  in  the  past,  that  ample  provision  is 
made  for  the  education  and  enlightenment  of  our  people. 

Whatever  is  done  to  uplift  our  people  at  home,  and  to 
knit  more  strongly  the  ties  that  bind  those  who  leave  to  those 
who  remain  by  the  old  firesides,  will  tend  to  the  betterment 
of  all. 

We  are,  indeed,  fortunate  that  Ellington  was  the  early 
home  of  him  to  whose  tribute  just  words  of  praise  have  already 
been  said.  We  are  glad  that  the  ties  which  bound  him  to  us 
were  not  severed  in  life.  We  rejoice  that  he  was  wise  and 
able  enough  to  provide  for  this  beautiful  building.  We  trust 
that  this  building,  and  that  for  which  it  will  stand,  will  prove 
a  tie  to  draw  all  his  good  kinsfolk  to  us,  and  a  means,  as  well, 
to  the  education  of  ourselves  and  our  children. 

Ellington  has  had  a  public  library  for  some  years  and  has 
received  the  support  and  encouragement  of  our  people;  but  until 
now  the  library  has  not  had  a  home  of  its  own,  and  we  have  not 
been  able  to  undertake  for  it  the  larger  things  which  we  would 
have  liked  to  do.  So  we  were  very  glad  when  we  learned  of  the 
generous  provision  made  for  a  library  building.  We  have 
watched  its  building  with  increasing  interest.  Xow  as  we  have 
seen  and  studied  its  complete  and  perfect  appointments  we 
realize  as  never  before  the  possibilities  for  improvemnt,  upon  a 
community  like  ours,  which  are  contained  in  a  well  adapted, 
well  arranged,  up-to-date  library. 

Sirs,  the  Library  Directors  accept  from  the  town — through 
you,  its  representative — the  care  and  keeping  of  this  beautiful 
structure.  Any  proper  maintenance  of  a  library  means  more 
than  the  care  of  a  hall — a  janitor  can  do  that.  It  means,  in  part, 
the  gathering  of  the  choicest  thoughts  of  the  world's  greatest 
minds,  as  recorded  through  all  time  to  this.     It  means  such 


27 

arousing  of  public  interest  in  the  library  as  will  draw  men, 
women  and  children  to  it.  It  means  the  stimulating  of  the 
community  to  a  fixed  purpose  to  seek  and  experience  the  higher 
and  better  things  which  come  with  education  and  refinement. 

We  realize  better  than  any  one  else  our  utter  inability  to 
do  for  this  library  that  which  ought  to  be  done.  We  can  only 
promise  for  ourselves  and  our  successors  our  best  endeavor. 
We  shall  try  in  so  far  as  the  means  is  provided,  and  as  in  us 
lies,  to  keep  this  building  with  care,  and  to  supply  it — not  so 
much  with  a  large  collection  of  books  as  with  choice  and 
valuable  books,  and  to  interest  all  in  its  use. 

Our  task  will  be  a  futile  one,  except  all  the  good  people  of 
this  community  shall  take  a  vital  interest  in  the  library.  Except 
all  think  and  speak  of  it  as  our  library — helping  towards  its 
support — visiting  it  often — recommending  and  bringing  good 
books  to  it — using  it  and  inducing  others  to  do  so. 

Help  us  to  rightly  sustain,  rightly  maintain  and  widely 
use  this  library,  and  ere  long  the  Town  of  Ellington  will  bear 
an  honored  name  in  our  Commonwealth.  More  and  more  then 
will  it  be  a  place  desirable  in  which  to  live,  and  to  which  our 
absent  friends  will  delight  to  return. 

The  constant  sight  of  this  building  will  of  itself  be  an 
education  to  us.  To  look  upon  a  handsome  work  of  architecture 
like  this  is  uplifting.  It  will  inspire  us  to  make  our  own 
homes  more  attractive. 

This  building  has  been  erected — the  free  gift  of  a  noble 
man — a  thing  of  beauty,  at  a  parting  of  the  ways  in  our  village. 
Long  may  it  stand  a  fitting  monument  to  him  who  gave  it, 
and  to  other  members  of  the  Hall  family,  preserved  and  be- 
loved by  the  people,  who  shall  be  inspired  by  its  architectural 
and  delicate  appointments,  and  made  wiser  and  happier  by  a 
large  reading  and  study  of  that  which  it  shall  contain. 


28 

Following  the  remarks  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Lil)rary 
Directors,  which  concluded  the  formal  exercises  of  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  library,  the  choir  again  rendered  a  beautiful 
selection. 

Mr.  McKnight  introduced  the  next  speaker  as  follows : 
Citizens  of  Ellington: — We  have  now  received  this  benefi- 
cent trust,  and  perhaps  some  words  of  counsel  and  instruction 
may  be  well  for  us;  and  undoubtedly  no  man  is  better  able  to 
give  us  those  words  of  instruction  and  counsel  than  the  Hon. 
Charles  D.  Hine,  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education. 
We  shall  be  pleased  now  to  listen  to  his  address  on  "The  Relation 
of  a  Town  to  a  Public  Library." 


29 


ADDRESS  OF  HON.  CHARLES  D,  HINE. 


The  pleasant  task  assigned  to  me  to-day  is  to  tell  you  what 
you  ought  to  do  with  your  new  library  building.  In  what  I 
say  I  may  exaggerate  your  powers,  but  I  shall  not  overestimate 
your  good  intentions. 

I  shall  not  expatiate  upon  the  delights  of  the  right  use 
of  books  and  of  reading  and  what  books  can  do  for  us  if 
rightly  used.  All  that  can  be  said  upon  that  great  and  ad- 
mirable subject  has  been  said  by  far  wiser  and  greater  men 
than  I  can  pretend  to  be.  Good  books  enrich  life,  they  refresh 
it,  they  console  it.  After  the  first  necessities  of  life  have  been 
satisfied  and  habits  of  observation  formed,  then  the  taste 
for  wise  reading  and  the  cultivation  of  habits  of  reading  are 
almost  the  next  qualities  in  a  full  and  well-lived  life.  From 
books,  from  libraries  rightly  used,  we  can  gain  the  quickening 
of  the  intelligence,  the  waking  up  of  drowsy  thoughts  and 
slumbering  impulses.  Show  me  a  man  or  a  woman  whose 
reading  has  made  him  or  her  tolerant,  patient,  candid,  a  truth- 
seeker  and  a  truth-lover,  and  I  will  show  you  a  well-read  man. 

An  admirable  definition  of  the  purposes  of  libraries  and 
of  books  was  given  by  a  worthy  man  of  letters  years  ago  when 
he  said  their  object  was  to  bring  more  sunshine  into  the  lives 
of  our  fellow-countrymen,  more  good  will,  more  good  humor 
and  more  of  the  habit  of  being  pleased  with  one  another.  I 
will  make  a  little  addition  to  that — namely,  "the  purpose  is  to 
bring  sunshine  into  our  hearts  and  to  drive  moonshine  out  of 
our  heads." 

The  first  thought  to-day  is  the  maintenance  of  this  building. 
It  will  stand  as  the  center  and  symbol  of  the  literary  activities 
of  the  town.  It  should  always,  outside  and  inside,  be  the 
pride  of  every  citizen.  The  duty  of  maintaining  the  home  of 
the  library  will  rest  upon  you  who  are  here  assembled.  The 
test  of  civic  spirit  will  be  the  care  and  solicitude  with  which 


80 

the  building  is  pre'=C'rved  in  its  present  beauty  and  convenience 
and  from  time  to  time  improved  and  adorned. 

There  is  a  suggestion  which  this  occasion  impose;  and 
justifies.  The  towns  of  this  State  should  offer  to  tlieir  citizens 
worthy  public  buildings.  The  rule  of  ancient  life  was  to  live 
at  home  in  simple  lodgings,  and  in  public  to  have  ever  in  view 
beautiful  and  stately  pul)lic  buildings.  We  have  hitherto  re- 
versed all  this;  we  put  the  extreme  luxury  that  we  command 
into  our  home  and  we  starve  our  public  places.  Towns  adorned 
with  historic  monuments,  v/ith  convenient  and  beautiful  puljlic 
buildings  should  be  the  cherished  birthplace  of  every  citizen, 
and  as  it  was  once  so  will  it  be  again. 

Moreover,  the  libraries,  museums,  statues,  galleries,  schools 
and  public  halls  should  no  longer  be  concentrated  in  our  over- 
grown capital  cities,  but  they  should  be  located  in  every  town 
of  moderate  size.  To-day  the  town  is  deficient  that  has  not 
a  free  public  library,  and  the  time  will  come  when  art  galleries 
and  music  halls  free  to  all  and  within  the  reach  of  all  will  be 
regarded  as  necessary  instruments  of  public  education.  To 
this  good  roads,  trolleys  and  telephones  are  contributing. 

I  know  that  the  time  will  be  long  and  the  waiting  weary. 
Ideals  are  realized  slowly,  by  long  effort.  To  reach  such 
ideals  we  must  especially  reach  a  higher  view  of  education  and 
an  enlarged  conception  of  human  life. 

The  generous  donor  of  this  building  has  furnished  an 
example  and  incentive  to  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the 
small  towns  of  this  Commonwealth. 

This  building,  and  the  library  which  is  the  soul  of  the 
building,  should  be  managed  in  the  broadest  spirit  of  hos- 
pitality. A  library,  as  a  mere  receptacle  of  books  to  be  jealously 
guarded  from  the  public,  is  a  thing  of  the  past.  Its  doors  are 
open  wide ;  its  spirit  has  been  expanded  beyond  the  boldest  dreams 
of  former  times.  To  every  inhabitant  of  the  town  the  per- 
vading atmosphere  should  invariably  be  that  of  kindness, 
s}Tnpathy  and  generous  dealing,  such  as  pervades  a  good  home. 

What  are  some  of  its  hospitable  possibilities? 


31 

Xot  only  has  everybod}^  free  access  to  the  shelves,  but 
books  may  be  sent  out  to  seek  readers,  to  serve  neighborhood 
life.  You  may  locate  in  each  corner  of  the  town — in  each 
little  community — small  libraries  to  meet  the  wants  and  direct 
the  literary  life  of  a  few  associated  families.  These  oft- 
appearing  messengers  from  this  center  will  educate,  cheer  and 
unite  the  quiet  distant  homes. 

You  may  issue  home  libraries.  Home  education  is  one 
duty  of  the  library.  Introduce  to  homes  little  groups  of  books, 
entrusting  the  care  to  some  member  of  the  family.  In  the 
past  there  was  no  free  public  library  and  many  families  pos- 
sessed only  a  few  books.  These  books  were  the  literary  standard 
of  the  family  and  connected  the  members  with  the  outside 
world  of  thought.  Family  libraries  are  not  so  common  as 
once  they  were.  Especially  to  the  thoughtful,  perhaps  to 
the  suii'ering  and  neglected,  books  will  come  as  angels  of  light 
and  peace. 

To  reach  isolated  homes  in  the  country  is  one  phase  of 
town  library  activity — a  plan  which  has  been  tried  and  found 
feasible  and  successful. 

For  all  who  resort  hither  for  study  or  recreation,  there 
should  be  bulletins  of  new  books,  guides  to  reading,  suggestions 
to  study.  There  should  be  lists  of  books  upon  special  and  timely 
topics  suggested  by  the  newspapers,  by  local  happenings  or 
important  world  events. 

The  duty  of  the  town  is  not  complete  when  the  doors  of 
this  beautiful  building  are  open.  The  soul  of  the  building  is  the 
books — what  they  contain,  what  they  carry  to  mind  and  heart. 
Your  schools  are  distributed  at  convenient  points.  Children 
are  conveyed  to  the  instruction  of  the  teacher.  To  the  homes, 
to  each  individual,  should  this  town  extend  the  high  ministry 
of  the  library. 

Sometimes  we  hear  those  favored  by  education,  by  habits 
of  reading,  by  love  for  books  and  by  near  access  to  libraries 
say,  "Here  are  books — take  what  you  want."  This  is  not  the 
mission  of  th.e  library.     Its  mission  is  to  open  new  avenues    of 


82 

reading,  to  assemble  readers  of  good  books,  to  carry  happiness 
and  wisdom  to  many  who  perhaps  perforce  have  never  heard 
the  good  tidings,  and  who  therefore  doubly,  yes,  infinitely, 
need  it.  Tliis  is  the  missionary  spirit  which  seeks  new  worlds, 
extends  righteousness,  broadens  minds  and  refines  human  hearts. 

This  principle  of  aid  can  be  extended  to  associations  which 
meet  for  purposes  forwarded  by  the  resources  of  the  library. 
There  are  social  organizations  like  women's  clubs.  To-day 
these  clubs  are  intelligently  and  resolutely  active  and  are  leading 
in  educational  directions.  There  are  debating  and  literary  so- 
cieties— I  wish  they  were  more  common.  There  are  Sunday 
school  classes;  there  are  schools;  there  are  students  of  pictures, 
of  art  and  of  music;  to  all  these  should  the  library  actively 
come  by  judiciously  selected  books,  by  guides  to  magazines 
and  by  selected  topics  from  the  reference  books.  Especially, 
and  above  all,  may  the  library  teach  children,  young  women 
and  young  men,  how  to  use  books. 

Upon  the  women  of  this  community  there  is  a  duty.  In 
this  State  many  public  libraries  owe  their  existence  and  their 
continuance  to  the  efforts  of  women.  They  are  every 
library's  friend.  I  hoj^e  that  their  enterprise  and  unselfish 
devotion  will  here  find  scope. 

To  your  charities  and  educational  associations  the  library 
may  be  helpful.  Here  they  may  find  a  welcome,  and  thev,  in 
turn,  will  help  to  spread  and  strengthen  the  influence  of  the 
books. 

In  suggesting  the  duty  of  the  town  to  this  library,  have 
the  foregoing  literary  and  social  aspects  been  carried  too  far? 
All  these  things  your  library  can  do — they  have  been  done,  they 
are  in  the  process  of  doing  to-day.  I  am  not  erecting  impossible 
ideals.  This  is  the  function  of  the  public  library,  this  is  its 
meaning  to  the  people. 

The  library  does  not  appeal  to  you  through  books  alone. 
Here  should  be  a  center  of  social  life.  It  is  said  that  we  should 
co-operate  and  have  sympathy  with  one  another.  Almost  every 
man  and  woman  in  these  days  belongs  to  some  organized  body. 


33 

But  he  does  not  get  from  these  fraternal,  charitable  and  social 
organizations  real  practice  in  harmoniously  working  with  the 
whole  community  to  effect  some  definite  and  necessary  end. 
Churches,  fraternal  orders,  social  clubs,  labor  organizations — 
their  name  is  legion.  I  believe  that  these  are  the  best  schools 
of  citizenship.  In  them  are  found  the  leaders — not  always 
worthy  ones.  In  them  are  found  the  arts  of  management — 
not  always  the  noblest.  They  teach  the  power  of  co-operation. 
As  citizens  of  this  town,  having  here  the  books  and  here  the 
building — the  books  which  will  attract  and  the  building  which 
is  fit  for  their  meeting — you  can  invite,  encourage  and  allure 
everyone  to  this  place  for  all  purposes  plainly  non-political, 
not  anti-social  and  truly  educational.  Free  from  the  taint 
of  selfishness  or  personal  reward,  these  books  and  this  building 
call  you  to  kindly  co-operation,  to  generous  action,  to  social 
improvement. 

For  all  the  generations  since  the  establishment  of  our 
State  we  have  erected  meeting  places  of  religion.  We  have 
chapels  and  churches.  They  stand  for  much  that  is  good, 
for  the  best  and  noblest  influences  of  society.  But  thus  far 
they  have  not  brought  together  in  a  tolerant  and  unified  spirit 
the  communities  in  which  they  have  been  erected.  A  single 
church  is  not  the  center  of  the  life  of  all  the  people  who  live 
within  the  shadow  of  its  spire. 

Since  our  fathers  came  to  this  goodly  land  we  have  built 
our  schoolhouses  as  temples  of  learning  and  good  citizenship. 
I  wish  they  more  realized  our  ideals  of  beauty,  that  each 
demonstrated  by  its  exterior  and  interior  that  all  people  prized 
learning  and  rightly  estimated  the  impressible  years  of  chil- 
dren and  were  ready  to  give  them  the  best  that  this  day 
affords.  These  schools  come  nearer  to  bringing  together  the 
best  impulses  of  all  of  us  than  have  any  other  of  our  insti- 
tutions. They  are  not,  however,  for  both  young  and  old,  as 
I  think  they  ought  to  be;  sometimes,  alas,  they  speak  of  rigid 
discipline,  of  master  and  pupil,  of  law  and  immediate  punish- 
ment, instead  of  the  fellowship  and  kindly  association  of  simple 
studv  and  learning. 


34 

The  donor  whose  generous  purpose  has  brought  to  your 
people  a  library  has  raised  a  temple  of  associated  happiness  and 
wisdom  common  to  you  all.  You  have  no  other  institution  in 
this  town  so  wide  in  its  scope,  none  so  universal  in  its  appeal, 
none  so  attractive  to  old  and  young,  none  so  typical  of  the 
highest  and  best  style  of  architectural  beauty,  none  so  open 
and  ready  to  teach  without  intolerance  or  arrogance,  the 
young,  the  ignorant  and  as  well  the  wisest  and  best  of  you  all. 

This  library  ought  to  be  your  civic  center,  the  starting 
point  and  inspiration  of  your  social  efficiency  and  activity.  It 
should  join  you  together  as  one  civic  commu.nity  and 
strengthen  among  you  the  sentiment  that  you  are  citizens  of 
the  good  town  of  Ellington,  and  co-workers  each  for  every 
other  within  the  community.  Is  this  too  large  a  view  of 
your  duty?  Each  member  of  this  community  can  here  find 
what  he  needs.  Those  of  you  religiously  inclined  may  find 
books  which  will  keep  your  thoughts  from  narrowness.  You 
who  till  the  soil  will  find  here  the  books  which  guide  you 
in  your  important  and  advancing  avocation.  The  novel  reader, 
the  seeker  after  amusement,  will  not  go  away  empty.  Every 
trade  or  craft  will  be  here  illuminated.  It  is  not  impossible 
to  establish  by  the  efficiency  of  the  library  the  reading  habit 
in  those  who  get  physically  weary  every  day.  Perhaps  it  will 
be  necessary  to  wait  a  generation  or  two,  until  through  the 
schools  and  this  institution  the  reading  habit  is  established 
and  confirmed. 

From  the  library  we  extract  the  essence  of  all  that  has 
preceded  us.  Here  by  patient  and  tolerant  reading  we  may 
combine  and  harmonize  them  into  one.  Within  our  range 
we  may  secure  completeness  and  symmetry,  we  may  learn 
the  lessons  of  zeal  for  truth,  of  science,  knowledge  and  im- 
provement, we  may  make  our  lives  radiant  witli  poetry  and 
art.  Here  are  found  political  sagacity,  the  orderly  arrange- 
ment of  government,  law  and  freedom.  Here  we  may  find 
a  noble  sense  of  public  life.  Here,  above  all  else,  we  may 
find  faith,  with  its  discipline  of  devotion  to  the  service  of  a 


85 

greater  power  than  self.  These,  in  clue  proportion,  we  may 
combine  with  the  knowledge,  the  variety,  the  activity  and  the 
humanity  of  modern  life. 

Here  in  civic  and  social  needs  lies  the  duty  of  the  town. 
Not  as  the  mere  mender  of  highways,  not  as  the  custodian 
of  the  poor,  not  as  the  arena  for  the  struggles  of  party  politics 
and  personal  ambitions,  not  merely  as  the  generous  guardian 
of  children — but  through  this  institution  can  the  town  bring 
learning  and  happiness  to  every  one  who  here  abides. 

Shall  it  be  said  that  for  the  want  of  helping  hands  which 
this  work  requires,  your  library  is  weak?  Shall  it  ever  be 
said  that  for  the  want  of  sympathetic  hearts  this  library  has 
failed  of  its  highest  and  best  mission?  Shall  it  ever  be  said 
that  for  the  want  of  money  which  will  make  it  largely  efficient 
this  library  has  not  accomplished  these  high  ends?  By  your 
town  action  with  full  understanding  you  have  answered,  you 
have  entered  upon  this  beneficent  and  invigorating  work.  The 
larger  and  fuller  the  answer  will  be  manifest  in  the  life  of 
this  community.  All  concerned  here  with  the  administration 
of  this  library,  I  am  sure,  feel  that  upon  them  rests  a  great 
responsibility. 

It  matters  less  what  books  we  read,  what  subjects  we 
handle,  what  topics  we  treat  of,  than  the  spirit  in  which  they 
are  dealt  with.  The  spirit  of  the  library  may  be  that  of  the 
best  that  the  library  contains,  and  not  the  worst.  The  com- 
munity may  be  distinctly  moved  to  a  higher  plane  by  its 
acquaintance  with  books :  this  is  the  true  mission  of  the  library. 

The  real  thing  is  that  reading  and  books  would  be  fruitful 
in  strengthening  the  great  foundations  of  character. 

We  meet  to  celebrate  the  opening  of  a  public  library  in 
this  town,  to  dedicate  in  a  becoming  manner  the  building  to 
the  great  purposes  which  a  son  of  this  fair  town,  the  donor, 
has  planned.  The  Connecticut  Public  Libraray  Committee 
welcomes  this  new  building  and  the  books  which  it  contains 
to  that  noble  family  of  libraries  which  now  adorn  so  many 
of  the  beautiful  towns  of  this  fair  Commonwealth.     In  behalf 


36 

of  the  committee  I  venture  to  pronounce  this  building  one 
of  this  family. 

I  congratulate  you,  the  immediate  beneficiaries  and 
guardians  of  this  library,  upon  the  acquisition  of  this  splendid 
literary  home;  and  I  congratulate  the  State  because  all  are 
participators  in  the  benefit  of  the  part. 

In  all  the  history  of  this  ancient  town  there  has  been  no 
similar  occasion,  and  there  has  been  no  event  of  greater  or 
equal  importance.  In  saying  this  I  do  not  forget  nor  under- 
estimate your  churches  and  your  schools,  in  which  you  are 
equal  to  all  your  sister  towns.  But  I  insist  that  to-day  is 
the  starting  point  in  a  new  social  and  intellectual  life.  The 
library  becomes  a  center  to  which  all  the  people  of  this  town 
will  come — a  building  consecrated  forever  to  the  extension  of 
human  knowledge. 

With  true  vision  you  have  placed  yourselves  under  a  per- 
petual bond  to  maintain  this  institution.  You  have  recorded 
not  only  your  acceptance  and  grateful  appreciation,  but  you 
pledge  yourselves — both  those  men  and  women  who  are  now, 
and  those  who  shall  be — to  the  extension  of  the  university  of 
books  to  the  men  and  women  of  all  the  future.  This  day  not 
only  records  acceptance  and  gratitude,  but  pledges  the  faith 
of  the  town  for  the  continuance  of  the  library,  a  promise  of 
which  this  building  is  a  perpetual  memorial. 

Sometimes  Ave  feel  that  the  old  times  were  better  than 
these.  But  the  Hebrew  King  says — "Say  thou  not  that  the 
former  days  were  better  than  these,  for  thou  dost  not  inquire 
wisely  concerning  these."  These  new  libraries,  the  endeavor  of 
living  men  and  women,  are  contributions  to  the  betterment  of 
our  towns  and  our  State.  These  efforts  have  not  the  glow  of 
the  twilight  of  history  upon  them,  but  we  are  called  to  do  our 
appointed  work  with  fidelity  and  earnestness.  The  most  hope- 
ful forecasts  are  the  truest.  The  general  march  of  events  is 
towards  moral  and  social  amelioration — towards  righteousness 
and  intelligence,  and  these  libraries  are  full  of  promise. 

This  building  will  be  an  enduring  memorial  of  the  donor^ 


37 

every  book  will  bear  testimony  of  his  wise  generosity  and 
interest  in  his  native  town.  It  will  belong  forever  to  the  place 
in  which  to-day  we  know  it.  It  will  be  incorporated  with  the 
surroundings,  the  people,  the  site.  It  will  see  generation  after 
generation  come  and  go.  It  will  become  sacred  with  the  as- 
sociations of  those  who  gather  here,  a  standing  record  of  the 
life  of  this  community. 

I  commend  to  you  the  using  of  the  library  and  the  con- 
stant enlarging  of  it.  To  us  all  the  thought  of  this  hour  is 
that  the  attractiveness  of  the  home  is  to  give  new  power  to 
the  library  itself. 

To  all  who  in  this  goodly  town  abide,  both  in  their  earlier 
and  later  years,  may  the  beauty  of  the  home  and  the  richness 
of  its  contents  bring  an  influence  which  shall  make  them 
forever  rejoice. 

The  next  speaker  was  introduced  by  ]\Ir.  McKnight  as 
follows : 

Probably  not  all  of  us  present  here  to-day  will  remember 
the  Eev.  Nathaniel  H.  Eggleston,  who  was  pastor  of  this  church 
more  than  half  a  century  ago;  but  I  am  sure  we  will  all  be 
very  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  looking  into  the  face  of 
the  man  who  was  the  promoter  of  the  park  directly  in  front  of 
this  building.  We  have  all  enjoyed  it  more  or  less  during  the 
years  that  are  gone.  We  are  very  glad  that  Mr.  Eggleston 
is  with  us  to-day  to  see  the  result  of  his  work  in  former  years 
and  to  supplement  that  work  by  giving  us  some  "Eeminiscences 
of  Ellington." 


38 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  NATHANIEL  H.  EGGLESTON. 


"Eeminiscences  of  Ellington  in  the  Days  of  Judge  Hall 
AND  His  Son,  Edward  Hall/' 

I  have  been  invited  by  the  brothers  of  Mr.  Francis  Hall, 
the  executors  of  his  will,  to  be  present  here  to-day  and  to  give 
some  of  my  recollections  of  Ellington  in  connection  with 
their  father.  Judge  Hall,  and  their  brother,  Mr.  Edward  Hall. 
I  am  glad  to  comply  with  their  request  and  contribute,  how- 
ever slightly,  to  the  interest  of  this  occasion. 

My  first  impressions  of  Ellington  as  a  village  were  alto- 
gether pleasant.  The  long,  green  meadow  stretching  from 
north  to  south  for  miles,  flanked  on  either  hand  by  gently 
rising  hills,  with  the  imposing  school  building  on  its  so  ap- 
propriate site  and  the  main  street  canopied  with  its  stately 
elms — formed  a  lovely  and  inviting  scene. 

My  first  impressions  of  the  people  of  the  place  were  not 
less  pleasant,  and  among  the  earliest  to  give  me  and  my  wife 
a  gracious  welcome  were  Judge  Hall  and  his  son,  Mr.  Edward 
Hall.  The  house  of  the  latter  was,  in  fact,  my  first  home, 
for  by  the  kind  arrangement  of  somebody  I  was  allowed  to 
become  at  once  a  member  of  his  family.  I  could  not  have 
had  a  better  introduction  to  the  people  whom  I  had  come  to 
serve  than  was  thus  secured  for  me.  Mr.  Hall  appreciated 
the  situation  and  needs  of  the  young  and  inexperienced  pastor 
and  did  everything  in  his  power  to  facilitate  the  mutual  ac- 
quaintance of  minister  and  people.  He  was  then  conducting 
a  large  family  school,  following  in  the  steps  of  his  father 
as  a  teacher,  with  his  father's  spirit,  and  devoting  himself 
most  faithfully  and  constantly  to  the  welfare  of  the  pupils 
entrusted  to  his  care.  His  was  a  family  school  most  truly. 
He  was  also  actively  engaged  in  the  concerns  of  the  church 
of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  ready  also  as  a  citizen  to 
promote  every  interest  of  the  public.     After  the  lapse  of  more 


39 

than  fifty  years,  I  have  most  pleasant  recollections  of  him 
and  his  family  and  am  happy  to  bear  testimony  here  to-day 
to  his  great  worth  and  excellent  character. 

Judge  Hall  was  then  somewhat  withdrawn  from  public 
view.  A  severe  illness  in  his  earlier  years  had  left  him  with 
an  enfeebled  body,  which  had  been  still  more  enfeebled  by  his 
long  and  unsparing  labors  as  a  teacher,  and  now  that  he 
was  no  longer  able  to  continue  his  arduous  work,  his  tastes 
and  studies  made  him  quite  willing  to  pass  most  of  his  time 
in  the  seclusion  of  his  home,  and  in  the  companionship  of  his 
family. 

I  was  not  long  in  discovering  that  no  one  was  more  re- 
spected in  the  community  or  more  influential  than  he.  He 
had  merited  the  regard  of  his  fellow  townsmen  and  of  all  who 
knew  him,  by  the  whole  course  of  his  past  life.  In  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  he  had  been  known  as  a  superior  scholar  and 
in  his  college  years  he  had  maintained  a  like  distinction.  His 
high  scholarship  and  estimable  deportment  had  led  to  his  ap- 
pointment as  a  tutor  in  Yale  college  two  years  after  his 
graduation.  He  held  this  office  for  three  years  and  then  came 
back  to  Ellington  to  live.  Five  years  later,  at  the  early  age 
of  twenty-nine,  he  became  a  Judge  of  the  County  Court  and 
filled  that  office  during  several  years.  He  was  sent  twice  to 
represent  his  native  town  in  the  State  Legislature  and  Avas 
Judge  of  Probate  also  for  a  considerable  time.  He  was  like- 
wise a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  National  Congress  when 
only  thirty-four  years  of  age.  Shortly  after  this  he  withdrew 
from  public  and  political  life  to  one  more  congenial  with  his 
tastes  and  adopted  the  profession  of  a  teacher,  establishing 
at  his  own  expense  a  select  school,  which  grew  into  the  well- 
known  High  School  and  became  one  of  the  noted  educational 
institutions  of  the  country,  known  far  and  wide  for  its  ex- 
cellent character.  While  conducting  it,  as  he  did  for  many 
years,  Mr.  Hall  was  himself  not  less  a  student  than  a  teacher. 
He  was  always  and  everwhere  the  student.  He  saw  no  limit 
to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  and  was  always  striving  for 


40 

now  attainments.  He  was  practical  also  in  his  search  for 
knowledge  and  in  its  use.  He  held  these,  his  acquisitions, 
not  as  a  hoard  for  his  own  benefit  alone,  but  for  that  of 
others  as  well,  and  was  never  happier  than  when  he  could  im- 
part tliom  to  his  fellow-men.  He  was  a  scholar  for  life,  and 
a  student  of  books  for  the  practical  uses  of  life. 

It  was  a  rich  privilege  to  be  brought  into  frequent  con- 
tact with  such  a  man  as  Judge  Hall,  as  I  knew  him  in  the 
maturity  of  his  powers.  It  was  a  great  privilege  also  to  be 
welcomed  to  his  house  and  to  the  society  of  his  estimable  and 
intelligent  family,  to  taste  the  savor  of  its  genial  and  high- 
toned  spirit,  where  also  a  true  Christian  nurture  had  been  the 
law  of  the  family  life  before  that  familiar  term  had  come 
into  recognized  use.  It  was  a  privilege  there  to  discuss 
with  him  subjects  of  highest  interest  and  the  great  themes 
of  religion  and  of  Christian  doctrine,  with  which  he  was  so 
conversant.  And  Avhile  I  had  thus  the  privilege  of  his  society 
in  his  home,  I  was  indebted  to  him,  as  the  parish  also  was 
— though  it  did  not  know  it — in  a  different  way,  for  the  in- 
citement which  he  gave  me  in  the  preparation  of  my  pulpit 
work.  Judge  Hall's  illness,  of  which  I  have  spoken,  so  affected 
his  eyes  that  he  was  obliged  to  screen  them  with  colored 
glasses,  and  whenever  I  was  tempted  to  slight  my  study  and 
the  work  of  getting  ready  my  sermons,  I  had  an  anticipative 
vision  of  those  green  spectacles  which  were  always  confronting 
me  as  I  stood  in  the  pulpit  and  behind  which  I  know  there 
was  a  power  of  insight  and  judgment  which  would  take  the 
proper  measure  of  my  words  and  work.  This  enabled  me, 
sometimes  at  least,  to  resist  the  temptation  to  slacken  effort, 
and  arouse  myself  to  new  diligence.  I  owe  him  much  for  this 
and  am  glad  to  acknowledge  here  to-day  my  indebtedness  in 
this  respect.  At  the  same  time  it  is  proper  to  say  that,  although 
he  doubtless  found  many  shortcomings  and  crudities  in  those 
prentice  sermons  of  a  3^outh  only  a  few  months  from  the  theo- 
logical seminary,    he    was  most    patient    and    tolerant,  never 


41 

indicating  liis  disapproval  or  inciting  dissatisfaction  in  the 
minds  of  others. 

He  was  truly  and  emphatically  a  Christian  man,  an  habitual 
attendant  upon  the  services  of  the  church  and  helpful  in  the 
promotion  of  all  its  interests.  His  voice  was  heard  frequently 
in  its  meeting  for  familiar  conference  and  prayer.  He  was 
greatly  interested  also  in  the  work  of  many  of  our  religious 
and  benevolent  societies,  in  several  of  which  he  at  times  held 
office.  He  was  specially  interested  in  the  work  of  Christian 
missions,  and  in  the  monthly  meetings  of  the  church  for  the 
consideration  of  that  work,  he  was  alwaj's  ready  to  report  in 
regard  to  the  particular  missionary  field  which  was  assigned 
to  his  care  and  study. 

Such,  in  brief  are  some  of  my  recollections  of  Ellington 
in  connection  with  Judge  Hall.  Pie  was  a  man  who  left  a 
stamp  upon  this  place  which  no  other  one  has  done.  Unob- 
trusive, but  of  high  character  and  unusual  mental  ability,  a 
student  of  the  best  things  through  life — he  was  our  sage. 
As  he  walked  our  streets — I  say  our  streets,  for  I  am  one  with 
you  again  to-day — wrapped  in  his  familiar  cloak,  he  seemed 
like  one  of  the  peripatetic  philosophers  of  old,  dispensing  his 
wisdom  as  he  walked.  He  sought  to  lead  others  to  the  love 
and  pursuit  of  that  knowledge  which  he  had  found  to  be  most 
promotive  of  the  highest  achievement  and  highest  happiness. 

And  so  I  foiind  also  that  the  pleasant  aspect  of  the  village 
as  I  saw  it  first  and  which  distinguished  it  from  many  of  the 
villages  around  it,  was  in  no  inconsiderable  measure  the  result 
of  his  tastes  and  public  spirit.  His  instructions  and  his 
practical  experiments  had  greatly  improved  the  methods  of 
agriculture  in  use  here  and  increased  the  productiveness  of 
the  fields.  The  village  had  also  been  indebted  to  him  for 
the  trees  planted  on  the  borders  of  its  principal  street  and 
which  have  long  been  one  of  its  characteristic  charms. 

It  is  has  been  more  than  fifty  years  since  his  visible  form 
has  passed  from  the  sight  of  living  man.  Comparatively  few 
of  those  present    here    to-day  have,  or  can  have,  any  distinct 


42 

recollections  of  him  as  he  walked  these  streets  or  met  his 
fellow-men  in  their  various  places  of  assembly.  But  it  is  only 
his  physical  form  that  has  passed  away;  and  during  all  the 
lapse  of  years  since  his  body  was  laid  away  in  yonder  cemetery 
— the  "God's  Acre"  in  the  proper  keeping  of  which  he  took 
so  much  interest — the  words  of  Scripture  have  had  a  specially 
appropriate  application  to  him,  "he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh." 
He  has  spoken  through  all  the  healthful  influences  which  he 
exerted  in  his  visible  life.  We  do  not  speak  in  words  only. 
There  is  an  inaudible  speech  often  more  significant  and  im- 
pressive than  words — the  speech  of  deeds  done,  of  forces  set  in 
operation,  the  silent  but  most  potent  influence  of  character. 
So  Judge  Hall  has  still  been  speaking,  though  lost  to  sight. 
He  has  spoken  in  the  many  who  have  gone  out  into  the  world 
and  held  positions  of  influence,  who  were  trained  upon 
yonder  hill  by  his  wise  instructions  and  wholesome  example. 
He  has  lived  also  and  spoken  in  his  children :  and  now  they 
come  Ijack  to  the  old  home,  and  with  a  grateful  sense  of  the 
blessing  which  he  has  been  to  them  and  in  his  spirit,  which 
ever  sought  to  be  of  benefit  to  his  fellow-men,  one  of  them 
has  erected  this  best  of  monuments  to  his  memory  and  all  unite 
in  bestowing  this  best  of  gifts  upon  the  place  of  his  and  their 
nativity.  In  this  beautiful  building  he  speaks  to-day  and  will 
speak  through  generations  to  come.  As  year  after  year  the 
children  of  your  households  and  schools  and  those  of  older 
years  shall  enter  its  doors  and  consult  the  volumes  with 
which  its  shelves  will  be  stored— the  records  of  the  lives  and 
deeds  of  the  great  thinkers  and  actors  of  all  time  and  the 
great  benefactors  of  the  world — he  will  continue  to  speak  to 
them,  and  who  shall  measure  the  influence  for  good  upon 
life  and  character  which  will  be  the  continuous  and  ever- 
widening  result  of  his  life,  his  labors  and  his  example. 

Mr.  McKnight,  the  chairman,  then  announced  that  by 
request  a  few  letters  from  absent  invited  guests  would  next 
be  read  by  Burton  S.  Chamberlin,  Esq. 


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43 

REMARKS  AND  READING  OF  LETTERS, 


il/r.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — To  the  executors 
and  trustees  of  Francis  Hall,  one  of  the  most  interesting  and 
pleasant  features  of  their  labor  in  connection  with  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Hall  Memorial  Library,  has  been  the  interest 
manifested  in  it  by  so  many  of  those  who  were  in  former 
days  identified  with  the  life  of  Ellington,  in  the  days  when 
John  Hall,  and  later  his  son,  Edward  Hall,  were  making  that 
town  the  center  of  a  far-reaching  educational  influence.  Many 
expressions  of  approval  and  good-will  have  been  received  by 
them  in  commendation  of  the  noble  object  of  Mr.  Hall  in 
erecting  this  memorial,  and  it  has  been  deemed  a  fitting  and 
appropriate  part  of  the  dedication  exercises  to  present  to  you 
several  of  these  letters;  and  to  me  has  been  alloted  the  pleasant 
task  of  reading  them  to  3^ou.  Several  letters  have  been  chosen 
as  typical  for  this  purpose. 

The  first  letter  I  will  read  comes  from  an  early  student 
in  the  school  of  John  Hall,  from  the  pen  of  one  who  for  many 
years  has  held  deservedly  a  high  position  in  the  world  of 
American  literature,  two  of  whose  l^ooks,  "Dream  Life"  and 
"Reveries  of  a  Bachelor,"  have  charmed  and  delighted  thou- 
sands of  readers  in  the  past,  as  they  will  continue  to  charm 
thousands  in  the  future — II-  Marvel — Donald  G.  Mitchell,  as 
he  really  is.     They  require  no  further  introduction. 

Dear  Mr.  Hall: — 

I  am  very  sorry  that  I  cannot  join  in  the  pleasant  com- 
memorative offices,  which  you  have  plotted  for  this  week,  in 
Ellington,  in  honor  of  my  old  and  revered  teacher.  Judge  Hall ; 
pray  count  me  a  listener  (tho'  absent),  to  your  memorial 
exercises ! 

It  is  now  seventy-three  years  ago — this  autumn — since  I 
first  stopped  at  "Pember's  Tavern,"  and  walked  up,  next 
moirning,  very  much  awed — to  meet  "The  Principal,"  and  to 
make  my   first   acquaintance   with   the   surroundings,   and   the 


44 

echoing  hall-ways  of  Ellington  School !  Thence  forward — 
for  seven  years  (with  one  or  two  longish  vacations)  I  "came 
and  went" — coming  to  know  excellently  well — the  old  meeting- 
house (as  it  stood  on  the  central  green)  and  "Pitkin's  Store," 
and  Martin's  brick  shoe  shop,  and  "Chapman's  tavern"  (on 
the  way  to  Snipsic)  and  McCrea's  apple  orchard,  and — best  of 
all — the  leafy  door-yard  and  benign  presence  of  the  head- 
master— Judge  Hall ! 

'Tis  well  that  his  reverent  descendants  should  dedicate 
a  library  to  his  memory,  and  it  is  well  that  the  people  of  that 
Ellington  region  should  have  bookish  remembrances  of  the 
kind  master  who  believed  in  thorough,  painstaking  teaching, 
and — no  less — in  all  honesties  of  speech  and  of  living. 

In  full  sympathy  with  your  pious  and  filial  undertaking, 
I  am.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

(Signed)  DONALD  G.  MITCHELL. 

Edgewood,  9th  Nov.,  1903. 

The  next  letter  comes  from  a  clergyman  of  prominence, 
well  known  to  you  and  once  a  teacher  in  the  school  of  Edward 
Hall,  who  is  at  present  the  dean  of  the  theological  department 
of  Howard  University — Rev.  Isaac  Clark. 

My  Dear  Friends: — 

I  rejoice  with  the  good  people  of  Ellington,  and  honor 
him  whose  munificent  gift  makes  them  rejoice.  I  am  very 
glad  that  the  memory  of  two,  avIio  did  so  much  for  education, 
is  to  be  perpetuated  by  so  fitting  and  enduring  a  monument. 
A  public  library  will  be  a  continuation  of  their  work,  and 
not  a  mere  memorial.  Though  dead  they  will  yet  speak.  It 
enhances  our  pleasure  to  think  that  he,  whose  filial  and 
fraternal  spirit  prompted  such  a  gift,  cannot  be  forgotten.  I 
thank  you  for  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  dedica- 
tion and  presentation  of  the  library,  but  I  do  not  see  how 
it  will  be  practicable  for  me  to  accept  the  invitation.  In  term 
time  there  is  constant  pressure  of  duties  upon  me  as  teacher, 
and  as  dean  of  the  department.     Be  assured  that  I  cherish  the 


45 

remembrance  of  my  life  in  Ellington,  and  of  my  very  pleasant 
association  with  the  Hall  family.  I  rejoice  that  the  family 
name  is  to  set  in  perpetual  honor  in  the  town  which  they  did 
so  much  to  make  widely  known  and  esteemed. 

With  my  very  kind  regards,  believe  me 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)  ISAAC  CLARK. 

The  next  letter  comes  from  a  distinguished  and  very  able 
jurist,  the  Hon.  Henry  B.  Brown,  Associate  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  Judge  Brown  was 
formerly  a  resident  of  the  town,  although  not  connected  in 
any  way  with  either  of  the  Hall  schools;  his  letter  is  filled 
with  Ellington  reminiscences. 

Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

Washington,  October  31,  1903. 
My  Dear  Sirs: — 

I  regret  that  owing  to  the  impossibility  of  my  leaving  the 
city  during  the  session  of  the  Supreme  Court,  I  shall  be  unable 
to  attend  the  opening  exercises  of  the  Hall  Memorial  Library 
at  Ellington.  I  should  be  delighted  to  do  so,  particularly  at 
this  pleasant  season,  but  it  is  only  in  cases  of  urgent  necessity 
that  I  feel  at  liberty  to  absent  myself  during  the  sessions  of 
our  Court. 

I  recollect  perfectly  the  day  when  as  a  boy  of  twelve  I 
first  caught  sight  of  Ellington  from  the  hill  at  the  east  end 
of  the  village,  where  the  road  turns  toward  Rockville,  with 
its  neat  houses  and  beautiful  row  of  elms,  which  were  said 
to  have  been  planted  by  your  ancestor.  I  thought  it  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  villages  I  had  ever  seen,  and  after  a  lapse 
of  over  fifty  years,  I  am  still  of  the  same  mind.  My  father 
had  then  recently  purchased  the  house  opposite  the  Academy 
at  the  western  end  of  the  village,  built  by  John  Hall,  and 
then  considered  not  only  the  finest  in  the  village,  but  with 
scarcely  a  rival  in  the  whole  of  Tolland  County.  It  certainly 
made  a  delightful  home  for  us  for  four  or  five  years,  until 


46 

after  I  had  entered  college,  when,  owing  to  the  death  of  my 
mother,  we  were  compelled  to  part  with  it.  It  was  then  sur- 
rounded by  fruit  trees  and  gardens,  commanded  a  view  of  the 
entire  village  street,  and  was  a  home  of  which  any  one  might 
be  proud. 

Mr.  Hall,  himself,  was  then  dead,  but  his  son,  Edward, 
had  recently  opened  a  school  near  the  center  of  the  village, 
which  was  afterwards  enlarged  and  is  still  standing.  The 
leading  citizen  of  the  town  was  Mr.  Brockway,  familiarly 
known  as  "the  squire,"  whose  house,  standing  next  to  the 
church  then  on  the  green,  has  only  been  changed  by  the  re- 
moval of  the  office  which  was  formerly  attached  to  it.  He  had 
been  member  of  Congress  from  that  district,  and  was  a  good 
lawyer,  a  kind  friend  and  an  excellent  citizen.  His  family 
were  the  social  lights  of  the  village  and  made  his  home  the 
center  of  hospitality  and  good  fellowship. 

]\Ir.  Timothy  Pitkin,  a  good  old  Connecticut  name,  kept 
the  store  in  the  center  of  the  village  and  lived  in  a  brick  house 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  He  was  also  blessed  with 
an  excellent  wife  and  a  family  of  accomplished  daughters. 
Dr.  Dow  was  then  the  only  physician  and  Dr.  Patton,  a  most 
genial  man,  the  only  dentist. 

I  entered  Yale  College  from  Ellington  in  1852,  and  after 
graduation  returned  there,  took  board  at  the  hotel  and  began 
my  study  of  law  at  "the  squire's"  office.  In  the  meantime,  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Hyde,  a  retired  clergyman,  had  purchased  the  house 
adjoining  Mr.  Brockway's  family,  I  believe  occupied  by  his 
father,  and  became  an  inhabitant  of  the  village.  His  home 
was  made  specially  attractive  by  three  accomplished  daughters, 
one  of  whom,  I  believe,  still  lives  there.  I  regret  to  say  that 
in  a  visit  I  made  to  the  village  three  or  four  years  ago  I  found 
but  two  or  three  persons  I  recall  as  living  there  at  the  time 
I  was  myself  a  resident.  All  were  either  lying  in  the  ceme- 
tery or  had  left  the  place  for  a  more  active  life  elsewhere. 
I  was  pleased  to  see,  however,  that  the  village,  excepting  in  a 
few    minor    particulars,  was  unchanged.     The    same    neatness^ 


47 

the  same  order,  the  same  quiet  life.  I  can  only  wish  that 
we  had  more  Villages  of  the  same  description,  and  more  public- 
spirited  and  generous  donors  to  build  libraries  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  their  people.  I  can  readily  understand  that  the 
Hall  Memorial  Library  will  become  the  center  of  the  social 
life  in  Ellington,  and  will  contribute  vastly  to  the  pleasure 
of  a  residence  there,  and  to  the  education  of  the  people.  The 
value  of  such  a  gift  can  hardly  be  overestimated. 

Very  truly  yours, 
(Signed)  H.  B.  BROWN. 

One  other  letter  comes  from  Dr.  Matthew  Buckham,  the 
President  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  Burlington.  Dr. 
Buckham,  I  understand,  was  formerly  a  resident  of  this  village, 
and  his  father  was  the  principal  of  the  school  in  the  interregnum 
between  John  Hall  and  Edward  Hall.    Dr.  Buckham  writes : 

University  of  Vermont, 

Office  of  the  President, 
Burlington,  Nov.  7,  1903. 
To  the  Chairman, 

Dedicatory  Exercises, 

Hall  Memorial  Library: 
Dear  Sir: — 

A  friend  has  kindly  sent  me  the  circular  announcing  the 
services  at  the  dedication  of  the  Hall  ]\Iemorial  Library,  and 
has  enclosed  a  cut  of  the  very  beautiful  building  then  to  be 
dedicated.  I  should  certainly  avail  mj-self  of  the  assurance 
that  "everybody  is  invited  and  will  be  welcomed"  did  not 
pressing  duties  prevent  my  attendance  on  this  most  interesting 
occasion — most  interesting,  I  assure  you,  to  one  who  passed 
some  years  of  his  boyhood  in  Ellington,  and  who  cherishes  most 
delightful  memories  of  this  charming  New  England  village. 
Included  in  these  delightful  memories  are  my  associations  with 
members  of  the  family  of  the  donor,  Mr.  Hall,  whom  I  con- 
gratulate on  the  pleasure  he  must  have  enjoyed  in  bestoAving 
upon   his   native   town   this   beautiful   gift,   which   will   be    an 


48 

unfailing    source    of    enjoyment    and    culture  to   his   fellow- 
townsmen  and  their  children  in  all  time  to  come.   • 
Very  sincerely, 

MATTHEW  H.  BUCKHAM. 

A  number  of  letters  of  formal  regret  have  been  received, 
among  which  is  a  letter  from  Caroline  M.  Hewins,  librarian  of 
the  Hartford  Library,  and  the  Governor  of  the  State  has  also 
sent  formal  regrets. 

In  this  connection  I  would  state  that  it  is  a  source  of 
great  regret  to  Charles  and  Robert  Hall  that  their  brother, 
Frederic  Hall,  was  prevented  by  the  state  of  his  health  from 
being  present  on  this  interesting  occasion. 

Now,  in  conclusion,  I  would  like  to  add  that  it  seems  to 
me  these  letters  bear  between  the  lines  to  the  citizens  of 
Ellington  a  most  significant  message.  That  message  bids  you 
to  cherish  and  preserve  the  noble  memorial  which  now  stands 
in  your  midst,  not  only  as  a  memorial  of  two  lives  worthily  lived, 
but  also  as  a  perpetual  reminder  of  the  refining  and  elevating 
influences  which  those  two  lives  impressed  upon  the  com- 
munity.    I  thank  you  for  your  attention. 

Mr.  McKnight  :  We  have  heard  written  words  to  us 
from  our  absent  friends;  we  have  a  little  time  now  we  should 
like  to  devote  to  the  use  of  the  friends  who  are  present  with 
us.  I  am  asked  to  call  first  upon  General  Baird  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

ADDEESS  OF  GENERAL  GEORGE  W.  BAIRD, 

of 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — 

As  I  stand  here  I  seem  to  feel  the  touch  of  a  vanished 
hand,  and  the  few  words  I  have  to  say  will  be  spoken  as  the 
echo  of  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still.     Many  of  you  knew 


49 

a  teacher  in  Edward  Hall's  school  and  because  he  was 
my  brother,  John  G.  Baird,  and  it  is  because  he  was  my  brother 
that  I  am  here,  as  I  have  myself  no  relation  with  the  day  or 
the  occasion  except  that. 

As  I  have  thought  of  him,  and  as  you  who  knew  him  well 
will  think  of  him,  I  have  thought  how  his  soul  is  rejoicing  in 
that  which  this  day  commemorates.  Of  all  the  men  whom  I 
have  known,  to  know  intimately,  I  have  never  known  one  who 
more  thoroughly  appreciated  that  which  could  be  learned  from 
books  and  who  more  thoroughly  learned  that  which  he  under- 
took to  learn  from  books.  I  have  often  thought  of  him  as 
being  accurately  described  in  one  particular  by  that  which 
Thomas  Carlyle  said  of  his  own  father,  "The  thing  that  he 
had  nothing  to  do  with,  he  did  nothing  with."  There  was  an 
integrity — an  intellectual  integrity — and  thoroughness  of 
knowledge  about  the  man  which  marked  him  to  those  who 
knew  him.  He  kept  that  which  he  did  know,  distinct  from 
that  which  he  did  not  know,  and  he  never  pretended  to  know 
that  which  he  did  not  know,  as  some  who  were  his  pupils 
will  remember.  And  this,  added  to  his  quite  notable  memory, 
gave  him  the  position  of  a  man  of  note  and  marked  him  an 
educated  man.  As  I  stood  to-day  in  your  beautiful  God's  Acre, 
beside  the  graves  where  his  dust  and  the  dust  of  his  beloved 
wife  commingle,  I  thought,  as  I  think  now,  "he  is  not  absent." 
It  is  not  possible  for  me  to  think  of  him  in  this  connection 
as  absent  or  unconcerned,  or  indifferent  to  that  which  is  going 
on  here  to-day.  It  \Vould  be  worse  than  death  for  his  spirit 
to  utterly  forget  and  be  unconcerned  about  that  which  deeply 
concerned  him  in  life.  So  I  believe  I  have  a  right  to  think 
that  he  enjoys  with  us  this  occasion,  and  that  his  beloved  wife, 
whose  name  has  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  transfer 
of  securities  to-day,  also  enjoys  with  him  and  with  you  this 
occasion. 

But  it  is  much  more  than  a  personal  reason  that  I  have 
for.  rejoicing  in  being  here.  I,  too,  am  a  citizen  of  Con- 
necticut.    I  am  a  native  of  a  countrv  town    not    unlike  this, 


50 

and  I  can  remember  vvlien  the  emphasis  of  the  life  of  Con- 
necticut was  largely  in  its  country  towns.  That  emphasis  has 
somewhat  departed  from  them  and  is  now  concentrated,  rather, 
in  cities  and  in  manufacturing  villages;  and  there  is  need 
for  those  who  are  living  now — as  there  will  be  greater  need, 
perhaps,  later — to  see  to  it  that  the  life  of  these  country  towns 
is  maintained.  Three  months  ago  I  was  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
and  as  I  walked  up  and  down  under  the  live  oak  trees 
that  surround  the  University  of  California,  it  was  a  great 
pleasure  to  me  to  think  that  the  intellectual  brilliancy  and  the 
social  charm  that  had  centered  al)out  that  place  in  its  faculty 
were  in  part  the  bestowment  of  my  native  State. 

This  town  was  accustomed  to  be  the  home  of  such  in- 
fluences; this  library  is  designed  to  maintain  forever  in  the 
future  a  like  influence.  I  think  it  was  Goethe  who  said, 
"Take  care  of  the  beautiful,  and  the  useful  will  take  care  of 
itself."  I  suppose  there  is  no  danger  that  the  owners  of  the 
acres  of  this  beautiful  valley  will  ever  be  negligent  in  their 
agriculture  by  disregarding  the  requirements  of  the  climate 
and  soil;  that  is  a  part  of  the  useful  for  them.  I  don't  mean 
to  imply  that  there  is  danger  that  other  things  may  be 
forgotten,  but  there  is  the  need  that  has  been  expressed  in 
the  quotation  I  have  made,  that  we  take  care  of  them. 

And  among  the  beautiful  things  that  we  want  to  take 
care  of  is  the  splendid  American  spirit.  America  lives,  not 
because  there  is  a  Capitol  at  Washington,  not  because  there  is 
an  army,  and  a  nav}%  and  a  congress — it  lives  because  in  these 
rural  communities  all  over  the  broad  land  there  is  the  mag- 
nificent American  spirit.  We  who  don't  like  to  think  of  our- 
selves yet  as  old  men  remember  the  splendid  response  which 
that  American  spirit  made  a  little  more  than  forty  years  ago, 
when  tliere  was  a  demand  for  it.  Let  this  library,  then,  be 
well  stored  with  books  that  shall  instruct  in  the  origin,  the 
foundation  of  this  government  and  this  people.  A  short  time 
ago  I  was  looking  over  the  curriculum  of  a  military  school 
in  one    of    the    European    nations,  and  prominent  in   it  was 


51 

the  study  of  the  history  of  the  imperial  and  royal  family  of 
the  nation.  We  have  no  imperial  and  royal  family,  but  we 
have  a  more  than  imperial  and  royal  class  of  ideas  that  are 
fundamental  in  this  nation.  Let  them  be  perpetuated;  let 
them  be  stimulated;  let  the  young  people  as  they  grow  up 
learn  to  revere,  to  honor  and  to  determine — as  their  fathers 
determined — to  hold  them  dearer  than  life  itself. 

It  is  a  particular  pleasure,  then,  for  me,  on  behalf  of 
that  brother  who  has  gone  from  us,  to  congratulate  the  people 
of  this  town  on  the  receipt  of  this  beautiful,  lasting,  beneficent 
memorial;  and  it  is  a  particular  pleasure  to  me  to  congratulate 
the  two  brothers  here  to-day,  members  of  the  family  it  was 
my  pleasure  to  know  some  years  ago  when  I  was  a  schoolboy, 
and  it  has  seemed  to  me,  as  I  have  listened  to  what  has  been 
said,  that  in  one  point  there  must  be  an  error  of  the  transcriber, 
and  that  it  should  be  "All"  and  not  "Hall." 

I  regret  that  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  congratulating  in 
person  their  brother  Frederic,  whom  it  was  also  my  pleasure  to 
know. 

INTRODUCTIONS  BY  THE  CHAIRMAISr. 

We  are  fortunate  to  have  with  us  two  brothers  of  the  donor 
of  our  library — Charles  C.  Hall  and  Robert  A.  Hall.  We  should 
like  to  hear  a  few  words  from  them. 

REMARKS  BY  MR.  CHARLES  C.  HALL. 

My  name  is  not  on  the  program.  I  am  not  a  public 
speaker,  nor  have  I  the  preparation  or  the  purpose  of  making 
any  address;  but  at  this  time  and  in  this  place  it  seems  well 
that  I  should  mention  three  purposes  of  the  executors  as  yet 
unfulfilled,  but  which  in  the  very  near  future  we  hope  to  ac- 
complish. 

Many  of  you  will  doubtless  remember  a  Japanese  young 
man  who  in  1873-4  resided  in  my  brother  Edward's  family  as  a 
student  for  something  over  a  year.  That  man  has  now  become 
one  of  the  leading  characters  of  Japan,  one  of  its  most  prominent 


hi 

and  wealthy  citizens.  On  a  visit  to  this  country  about  a  year 
ago,  he  placed  in  my  hands  $3,000,  to  which  Mr.  Parnham  has 
alluded,  to  be  spent  in  such  manner  as  might  seem  to  us  best  as 
a  memorial  to  my  brother  Edward.  A  part  of  this  sum  has 
already  been  put  into  the  memorial  window  with  its  three 
portraits,  which  some  of  you  have  seen,  and  into  the  ten 
transom  lights  with  their  "book-marks."  Something  over  a 
thousand  dollars  still  remains,  which  we  purpose  to  put  into 
objects  of  Japanese  art,  illustrating  the  wonderful  beauty  and 
artistic  skill  shown  in  the  work  of  the  Japanese.  We  hope  that 
this  will  be  accomplished  before  the  end  of  the  year. 

The  second  purpose  is  that,  in  carrying  out  our  brother 
Francis'  wish,  we  propose  to  make  a  careful  selection  of  about 
a  thousand  volumes  of  good  books  to  put  into  the  library.  We 
regret  that  time  has  not  allowed  us  to  do  this  before  the 
dedication,  but  those  empty  shelves — as  they  stand  this  day — 
will  have  somewhat  added  to  them. 

As  a  third  purpose,  we  have  engaged  an  expert  librarian 
and  indexer  to  properly  index  the  books  and  to  educate  the 
regular  librarian  in  the  work  of  distributing  these  books. 
She  is  already  engaged  in  the  preparatory  work. 

REMAEKS  OF  MR.  ROBERT  A.  HALL. 

I  shall  speak  very  briefly,  for  I  feel  like  an  empty  cistern, 
rather  than  a  flowing  spring  from  which  I  could  pour  out  words 
of  sincere  appreciation  of  your  gathering  here  to-day  to  be  a 
part  of  these  dedication  exercises.  All  my  time  and  strength 
have  already  been  expended  in  other  duties  necessary  to  the 
preparation  for  these  exercises.  Our  time  is  now  nearly  spent 
and  I  will  not  prolong  these  exercises.  Even  Mr.  McKnight, 
our  Chairman,  cannot  refill  my  emptied  resources. 

Good  friends  all — I  feel  I  can  call  you  such — I  may  truth- 
fully say  that  my  brother  Charles  has  spoken  to  you  the  very 
words  that  I  would  have  said,  and  I  know  that  you  do  not  wish 
to  have  them  repeated.  I  ask  you  all  to  kindly  excuse  me.  I 
thank  you  all. 


5^ 

Mr.  McKxight:  The  name  of  C.  C.  Kimball  of  Hartford 
is  called. 

C.  C.  Kimball:  At  this  late  hour  I  should  not  think  of 
making  a  speech.  We  are  all  hap}\Y  to-day.  It  is  a  gala  day 
and  we  are  all  bearing  smiling  faces.  That  condition  of  things 
is  only  possible  by  this  munificent  friend  and  son  of  Ellington. 
And  he  is  a  noble  son  of  Ellington,  born  into  a  noble  family, 
a  family  of  Halls.  I  will  simply  say,  "x\ll  hail  the  power  of 
the  name  of  Hall !" 

Mr.  McKnight:    The  name  of  J.  C.  Hammond  is  called. 

J.  C.  Hammond  :  I  don't  see  why,  except  it  may  be  that  I 
am  a  living  example  of  what  a  perfect  master  can  do  with  even 
crude  material.  The  two  years  that  I  spent  in  Edward  Hall's 
school — if  I  have  even  a  modicum  of  good  horse-sense — I  got 
then  and  there,  and  have  him  to  thank  for  it. 

A.  Park  Hammond:  I  have  only  a  word  to  say  as  to  Ed- 
ward Hall.  I  came  to  his  school  in  1845,  when  it  first  opened — 
there  were  only  seven  boys.  I  was  there  four  years,  and  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  my  education  and  my  business  life.  I 
have  always  respected  and  honored  him.  I  have  known  all 
the  family,  except  Mr.  Francis  Hall,  all  my  life,  and  I  am  very 
much  pleased  to  be  here  to-day  to  see  this  beautiful  building 
which  has  been  contributed  by  him. 

Mr.  McKnight:  I  am  going  to  leave  it  now  to  you  to 
speak  for  yourselves,  on  one  condition,  that  you  won't  all  speak 
at  once. 

James  M.  Talcott:  I  recollect  very  well  the  years  gone 
by.  For  more  than  three  years  I  was  a  member  of  Mr.  John 
Hall's  family— Judge  Hall,  as  we  called  him.  I  sat  at  table 
with  this  son  of  his  who  has  presented  us  with  this  noble  library. 
It  was  then  that  I  was  fitted  for  college  under  the  auspices  of 
Mr.  Hall,  assisting  him,  as  I  had  nothing  to  help  myself  with 
—assisting  him  to  pay  for  my  education;  and  I  recollect  those 
days    with    great    pleasure.     I  love  to  think  back  to  the  time 


54 

when  those  children  of  his  were  so  active  and  so  full  of  fun 
around  the  table,  and  when  Judge  Hall  himself,  with  his  grave 
face  and  earnest  manner,  said,  "Boys,  be  still !" — and  they 
were  still.  And  when  he  said  to  us  in  the  schoolroom,  "Boys, 
now  is  your  time  to  speak,"  we  had  to  speak.  And  it  was  a 
great  blessing  to  the  town  that  we  had  such  a  man  here  at 
the  head  of  this  noble  institution.  There  were  fully  one  hundred 
sleeping  rooms,  and  all  were  filled  with  students,  and  they 
received  from  him  a  starting-point  in  life  which  they  have 
carried,  I  believe,  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Let  us  to-day,  as 
citizens  of  Ellington,  feel  how  much  we  owe  to  Mr.  Hall,  his 
family  and  to  all  connected  with  them. 

Mr.  McKnight  :  I  will  call  upon  you  to  unite  in  the 
closing  song,  "America."  And  after  the  song,  Eev.  Luther  H. 
Barber  will  pronounce  the  benediction. 

PRAYEE  BY  EEV.  LUTHEE  H.  BAEBEE. 

0  Lord,  as  we  come  to  the  closing  exercises  of  this  oc- 
casion, we  miss  from  our  presence  one  who  would  have  been 
greatly  pleased  if  he  could  have  been  with  us  here  to-day.  We 
thank  Thee,  our  Heavenly  Father,  that  Thou  didst  make  him 
to  be  what  he  was.  Thou  didst  see  best,  in  Thy  all-wise  provi- 
dence, that  he  should  be  taken  from  us  before  this  occasion 
could  occur,  but  we  believe  that  he  has  been  received  and 
welcomed  by  Him  who  says,  "AVell  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  While  we  cannot 
render  thanks  to  him  in  person  for  what  he  has  done  for  us, 
yet  we  can  remember  him  with  great  pleasure,  and  we  shall 
herein  be  rendering  thanks  to  the  great  Giver  himself,  who 
made  him  to  be  what  he  was  and  who  enal)led  him  to  make 
the  gift  that  he  has  for  the  welfare  of  the  people  of  his  native 
town.  We  thank  Thee,  Heavenly  Father,  for  Thy  great  good- 
ness to  this  people  in  the  presentation  of  such  a  noble  gift  as 
has  been  made.  We  pray  that  it  may  prove  to  be  a  blessing 
to  the  people  of  this  town  in  the  years  as  they  roll  on;  and 


55 

in  the  ages  to  come,  even  the  generations  that  shall  come  and 
go,  may  it  be  a  blessing  to  them. 

And  now  may  the  grace  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus 
Christ,  the  love  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  the  communion 
and  fellowship  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  with  you  all  forever. 
Amen. 

THE  PORTEAITS  AND  BOOK-MARKS. 

In  the  description  of  the  Library,  allusion  has  been  made 
to  the  stained  glass  portraits  and  book-marks  in  the  transoms  of 
the  principal  windows.  These  beautiful  and  artistic  leaded  glass 
are  the  design  and  work  of  Spence,  Bell  &  Company  of 
Boston.  They  are  important  features  in  the  artistic  decoration 
of  the  stairway,  reading-room  and  book-room. 

Those  in  the  transoms  of  the  triple  window  at  the  head 
of  the  first  landing  of  the  main  stairway  are  portraits.  The 
center  one  is  that  of  John  Hall.  On  the  left  is  that  of  Edward 
Hall,  and  on  the  right  that  of  Francis  Hall. 

The  book-marks  are  reproductions  from  the  trademarks  of 
leading  early  printers  or  booksellers,  as  early  as  the  fourteenth 
century,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  record  of  their  use. 

The  two  in  the  north  window  of  the  reading-room  are  Juan 
Rosenbach — Spanish — 1493,  and  William  Caxton — English — 
1476. 

The  two  in  the  south  window  in  the  book-room  are  Fust 
and  Schoeffer — German — 1437,  and  Plantin — Flemish — 1493. 

In  the  east,  or  front,  window  at  the  north  of  the  entrance 
is  a  triple  window  with  three  book-marks.  The  left-hand  one 
is  Elzivir — Dutch — 1583.  The  center  one  is  emblematic  of 
Knowledge — a  lamp  and  open  book.  The  right-hand  one  is 
Ottavarino — Venetian. 

The  other  triple  window  in  the  east  front,  and  south  of 
the  entrance,  has  at  the  first  or  left-hand  side  the  well-known 
Aldus — Italian — 1502.  The  center  one  is  emblematic  of 
Literature — a  book,  inkstand  and  scroll.  The  right-hand  one  is 
the  Guinta  Familv — Florentine — 1495. 


THE  ADVERTISER,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


■:j 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


